Published: March 08, 2008 11:17 pm            

Zirkle

Larry and Nelda Zirkle, Stillwater, celebrated their 50th anniversary with family and friends at a 1950s movie night hosted by their daughters.

They were married Dec. 23, 1957, in the bride’s home in Crowell, Texas.

They have three daughters and sons-in-law, Laurie and Kevin Jumper, Geary, and Jill and Mark Prather and Jami and Manny Cervantes, all of Stillwater. They have seven grandchildren.

Zirkle came to OSU from Erick and graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in general engineering. After leaving OSU, he worked for Texas Instruments in Dallas and later became the owner of a retail and wholesale auto parts business in Childress, Texas.

After selling this business, he returned to academia and earned a doctorate in engineering mechanics from the University of Texas at Austin, presenting his doctoral thesis in the Netherlands.

He joined the mechanical engineering faculty at OSU in 1970 and retired after 26 years of service in teaching, research and service as the director of student services for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. He was the founder of the CEAT Scholars Enrichment program for engineering students and led leadership development trips to Germany, Austria, Belgium, England, Scotland and Japan.

During his time at OSU, he also opened one of the first personal computer stores in Stillwater, The Computer Works, and ran his own cattle operation.

He enjoys an active retirement, serving as an elder at Sunnybrook Christian Church and currently as president of the OSU Emeritus Program.

He loves golf, snow skiing, fishing, traveling, hunting, spending time at the family cabin in Colorado and singing in the gospel quartet Redeemed.

Mrs. Zirkle arrived at OSU as a graduate from Crowell, Texas, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in natural science education.

After their marriage, the Zirkles appeared on the front page of the Stillwater newspaper as the first occupants of OSU’s married student housing.

Mrs. Zirkle has been a housewife and mother and has opened her home to many. She has worked at Elizabeth’s on Campus Corner for more than 30 years, which allows her to demonstrate her love for fashion for people and their homes. She spent many years teaching Bible classes. She loves spending time with family, traveling and blessing others with her gifts and talents.

The couple has traveled to Italy, Greece, England, Alaska, Ireland, Japan, Germany and most recently Singapore and Thailand.

        

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