NORMAN — Sterling Gale Humble, 88, died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Norman. He was born Oct. 31, 1924, in Chattanooga to Elmore and Maude (Brooks) Humble.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church in Norman.
Gale graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1942. He attended Cameron College in Lawton and eventually left college to help his father farm after his older brothers joined the military. He married Marilyn Miller on Jan. 20, 1950, and they were married for 56 years. He was a resident of Lawton until 1993, when he and Marilyn moved to Norman. At the time of his death, he was a resident at Rambling Oaks Assisted Living. Gale attended barber college and owned and operated Humble’s Barber Shop in Lawton for 24 years. He was very proud of the fact that he put three children through college as a barber. In 1980, he was elected as a Comanche County commissioner, where he served until his retirement. In his retirement years, he served as a bailiff in the District Court of Cleveland County.
He served on numerous boards throughout his life: school PTA boards, Goodwill Industries Board, Kiwanis Club, Comanche County Mental Health Association, United Ministry Center, ASCOG (Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments) Board from 1981-1993, ASCOG president from 1984-1986, Private Industry Council from 1988-1992, Private Industry Council chief elected official from 1990-1991; deacon, elder and chair of the Board of First Christian Church of Lawton; elder and president of the Congregation of First Christian Church of Norman, and numerous chair positions of many committees.
He was an active and faithful member of First Christian Church of Norman, where he participated in the Homebuilders Sunday School Class, Christian Men’s Fellowship, ChARM Group and Discussion Group. He was a true servant. He enjoyed attending OU football games, basketball games and softball games. He still attended monthly OARC (Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils) meetings in Oklahoma City and frequently advocated for local government at the capitol.
Gale was a kind and gentle man and will be missed dearly by all who knew him. He was a loving and supportive father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved his family so much. He never missed a chance to tell his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews how proud he was of them.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; his parents; brothers Vallie, Elzie, ]ewel and Merrell; and sister, Greta.
He is survived by his three children, son, Steve and wife Mary Ann Humble of Ft. Worth, Texas, and daughters Judy and husband Mark Love of Montgomery, Texas, and Sandy and husband Gene Fuzzell of Norman; grandchildren Kelly and husband Scott Burbach, Todd Humble and fiancée Elizabeth Kanning, Stephen, Vera and Amanda Love and Grant Fuzzell; and great-grandchildren Blythe and Paxton Burbach. He is also survived by two sisters, Lahoma Dye and Elene Kinder; and sisters-in-law Darlene Miller and Wylda Humble; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Contributions in Gale’s memory may be made to First Christian Church Memorial Fund, 220 S. Webster Ave., Norman, OK 73069.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Havenbrook Funeral Home, with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
Arrangements for Gale and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.
Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.
Norman Transcript, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
'Game of Thrones' Boosts N. Ireland
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Zimmerman Jury Selection Turns to Media Exposure
Raw: FBI Meets Plane After Poison Threat
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
US, EU Leaders Announce Free Trade Talks
