NORMAN — Dr. Charles J. “Charlie” Mankin, 80, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 in Norman. He was born Jan. 15, 1932 in Dallas, Texas to Green and Myla Mankin. He was united in marriage on Oct. 12, 2007 in Maui to Betty Bellis.
Charlie was raised in west Texas and graduated from high school in 1949 from Ozona, Texas. Charlie received three degrees in geology from the University of Texas and held a post-doctoral position at Cal Tech. Mankin came to the University of Oklahoma in 1959 as an assistant professor and was commissioned by OU's longest-serving president, George Lynn Cross, to serve as director of the School of Geology and Geophysics in 1963. In 1967, Mankin became director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey, maintaining this role until his retirement in 2007. He is believed to be the longest-serving director of any state geological survey in the country. Upon his induction into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame, The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society called Mankin an “enrichment to the state and nation.” In addition to his leadership in Oklahoma, Mankin also served as president or vice president of national organizations including the Association of American State Geologists, the American Geological Institute, the Mid Continent Section of the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, and the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Charles was honored at the AASG annual meeting in June for playing a key roll in pushing through the National Geologic Mapping act.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Betty Bellis Mankin of Norman; daughters, Sally Geyer of Atlanta, Helen Volak of Tulsa and her children, Daniel and Katie; and Laura Veal and husband Larry and their children, Ashley Atherton and husband Aaron and their son, Collin, and Jeff Veal all of Noble; Betty's children Doug Bellis and wife Tina of Norman and their daughters, Jenna and Carmen, and Karen Powers and husband Mark of Cedar Park, Texas; and sister, Carolyn Thompson and husband Sam of Austin, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents; and his first wife, Mildred Helen (Hahn) Mankin.
Visitation will be held 1 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 at Havenbrook Funeral Home.
Memorial services will be held 3 p.m., Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 at the First Christian Church, 220 S. Webster, Norman under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
