Bruce Phelps Price

Bruce Phelps Price, 99, of Bartlesville, died Saturday, December 8, 2018. Bruce was born June 25, 1919, at the parsonage of his parents, Rev. Ora A. Price and Jenny May (Whitcraft) Price in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. His elementary and secondary education was in Logan, Ohio - his parents' hometown. After high school graduation, he attended Ernest Williams' music school in Brooklyn, NY, for two years. It was there where he learned the musical skills that became so useful in later life. He furthered his college education at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he obtained a BS in Education degree with a major in Music Education and a minor in mathematics. Upon graduation he served in the Army Air Force as a medical technician and as a statistician in a Psychological and Medical Testing unit in Biloxi, Mississippi. Returning to civilian life he obtained a Master of Music degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with a major in Flute Performance. He was then hired by the Dean of Fine Arts at the University of Texas to teach the art of woodwind instruments. It was in Austin, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Virginia Barron, in a Sunday School class at the University Methodist Church in Austin. The decision was made to change career directions from music to mathematical statistics. Graduate courses were taken at the Univ. of California and the Univ. of Texas. This enabled him to have a successful vocational career at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, and finally Phillips Petroleum. His contribution to the arts of Bartlesville are manifold. He was a charter member of the Phillips Symphony, now known as the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. As musical conductor for 14 years, the symphony became a recognized institution in our community. The first performances for chorus and orchestra of Handel's Messiah and Brahm's Requiem in Bartlesville were conducted by Bruce Price. These concerts gave impetus to the formation of the Choral Society. The Ballet society was also given a start by the symphony, since he conducted the orchestra for several ballet performances. The Bartlesville Symphony created the Bruce Price Legacy Award in his name. He was a charter member of the Allied Arts and Humanities Council - as president, he initiated community-wide funding for the council. Bruce served on the first Trust Authority of the Bartlesville Community Center. In that capacity he worked closely with the architects to get interactions between local art groups and the building designers. Bruce also served on the State Assembly of Arts Council as a member and as president. For his services to the arts of Bartlesville he received the Governor's Arts Award from Governor Nigh in 1980. Upon retirement from Phillips, Bruce worked part-time at the Bartlesville Community Center serving as an administrative assistant. When the second director suddenly resigned, Bruce was asked to serve as interim director until a suitable director could be hired. In that capacity he was asked to join the Rotary Club, and then was asked to serve as Secretary- Treasurer, which he did for 15 years. Virginia and Bruce were also volunteers in mission for the Methodist church on two trips overseas. The first to a small Russian village, where they helped build a farmer's home on the vast Russian steppe. The second was to Karsa, Estonia, where they helped restore a building. They took two trips to India on behalf of Rotary International's flagship project to eradicate polio in the world. There they assisted local Indian Rotarians in giving polio vaccine drops to the children of India. For this effort Bruce was given Rotary International's highest award for meritorious service for international peace and understanding. He and Virginia also made two trips to Mexico to deliver wheelchairs donated by the Springdale Rotary Club from the Wheelchair Foundation. Bruce also taught the Asbury Sunday School class for many years. He served on the First United Methodist mission work area as well. In addition, he has led the Xtra Years of Zest group for many years. He also gave many devotions to the morning men's prayer group. To honor his wife's lifetime devotion to family and community, Bruce made a generous contribution to Her Farm's radio project in Nepal supporting community education and development to empower women. He is survived by his four sons and their wives; Robert “Barry” Price of Denver, CO, Edward “Ted” & Kathryn “Kitty” Price of Katy, TX, Alan & Jill Price of Hurst, TX, and Scott & Carol Price of Wimberley, TX. He was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Louise Barron and his daughter Carol Louise Price, as well as brothers Robert Price and Richard Price. Grandchildren: Angela “Apple” Price, Jacqueline Meyer (husband Mark Meyer), Matthew Price (wife Susie Price), Kristin Strange (husband Nolan Strange), Matthew Price (wife Kasey Price), Carolyn Greenwood-Price (husband Cooper Greenwood). Great Grandchildren: Alexandra Meyer, Gabriel Meyer, Adam Price, Abigail Price, Jocelyn Strange, Brydon Strange, Jordyn Price, Khloe Price, Madalyn Greenwood-Price, Sophia Greenwood-Price and Caleb Greenwood-Price. Brother Robert's widow Nancy Price and his children, Lynn, Bruce, Gaile and Nancy Price. Brother Richard's children, Ann and Janine Price. Grandchildren Richard Price (wife Donna) and Jennifer Price, Great-Grandchild Marcus Price. Memorials for Bruce may be given to Bartlesville First Church (Missions), Bartlesville Symphony, Bartlesville Community Center and Bartlesville Rotary Club Foundation (International Projects). Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 16, at Bartlesville First Church. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Bruce Phelps Price

June 25, 1919 - December 8, 2018