Carla Sue Birdwell

Carla Sue Wilbourn Birdwell passed away on August 3, 2024. Carla was born on September 11, 1944. She grew up on a farm, raised by her loving parents, Richard and Delia Wilbourn until she graduated from Maud High School. She met and fell in love with her husband, Roy Birdwell when he went to work for her parents on the farm. They married on August 25, 1962. They had four children: Richie, Pete, Mary, and Sharlene. 

Carla attended Gordon Cooper Votech and then went to work for Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. Carla loved working at Tinker, working her way up to GS11 and retiring after 33 years as a Material Management Specialist. While at Tinker, she made some solid and lasting friendships with whom she loved and kept in touch by phone or through their monthly lunch dates when her health allowed, which started when they were still working at Tinker. 

Elvis Presley was Carla's favorite singer. She was a member of an Elvis Presley fan group with whom she made lasting friendships. When her health allowed, she and her Elvis friends would go to Graceland yearly during his birthday celebration. She loved those trips with her friends. 

Carla enjoyed fishing, painting, and crocheting. She could also play piano. She loved reading, especially books written by one of her favorite ministers, Dr. David Jeremiah. She would watch him on TV if she was not reading his books. She loved the Lord. She and one of her long-time Elvis friends, Geri, would talk nightly, saying the Lord's prayer and praying for others. She was a strong prayer warrior. Carla also liked watching old westerns and Fox News. Carla loved the USA, kept up with current news, and consistently voted, being a staunch Republican.

Carla was the matriarch of the family. She loved her family and her children have fond memories of her. She enjoyed taking them fishing. She loved holidays and always made them fun and memorable for her children when they were growing up. Halloween was especially memorable with water balloons and eggs. Hmmm, what could that be about? Her grandchildren were special to her. She enjoyed it when they came over to spend the night or visit with her. She would also take them to church with her. 

Carla was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Birdwell; parents, Richard and Delia Wilbourn; brother, Guy Slayter; great-grandson, Jackson Trevor Waite; and nephew, Thomas Franklin Birdwell.

She is survived by her two sons, Richie Birdwell and wife Teresa and Pete Birdwell and wife Donna; two daughters, Mary Cook and husband Randy and Sharlene Carter; step-sons, Leo and Thomas Sutton (wife Diana); grandchildren, Crystal Delarosa (husband Daniel), Shawn Goodman (wife Amy), Jennifer Brown (husband Dustin), Lacy Killman, Derrick Bourque (wife Audrey), Jessica Bourque, Clayton Drew, and Dalton Drew; step-grandchildren, Starla Cullum, Angel Mendenhall, Jason Phillips, and Heaven Smith; great-grandchildren, Carson, Christopher, and Roy Bourque, Brynn Waite, Austin and Carter Delarosa, Ian, Raiden, and Jon Goodman, Rhodes Sager and Kash Strickland; and brother, Jerry Hill.

The family would also like to acknowledge her best friends: Jim Leflore, Carolyn and Teddie Eberly. She loved them dearly.

If you know and have turned your life over to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Carla will be waiting for you in Heaven. If you do not know Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, please ask how you can learn to know him. 

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service on Wednesday, August 7th from 2-5pm and on Thursday, August 8th from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Carla's graveside service will be officiated by Pastor Dale Griffin at Little Cemetery on Friday, August 9, at 10:00 AM.