Jim Ditmore, 73, of Tonkawa, Oklahoma passed away on Monday July 7, 2008 in the Ponca City Medical Center.  Jim was born July 6, 1935 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma to Mary (Cain) and Albert Ditmore.

Except for a short time in the 3rd grade when his family moved to Colorado, Jim attended Tonkawa Schools, graduating from Tonkawa High School in 1953.  One of his fondest memories was being on the Tonkawa Buccaneer Football team when they won their first State Championship in 1952.

Jim graduated from Northern Oklahoma Junior College with an Associates Degree in 1955 and then received his Electrical Engineering Degree from Oklahoma State University in 1961.  

On August 27, 1955 he married Gail Crain in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and to this union three sons where born, Kris, Kent and Curtis.

Jim’s employment with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company moved them to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Topeka, Hutchison, Kansas City, Kansas, and St. Louis, Missouri.  In 1973 Jim left S.W. Bell to move his family back to Tonkawa where he began farming full time with his dad, Al.

Jim then accepted the position as Tonkawa City Manager and later became CEO and President of Service Bank until he went back to full time farming.  In 2006 he was elected to the Tonkawa City Council and was currently serving as Mayor.

Jim was an avid outdoor sportsman and loved fishing, hunting, especially big game, enjoying many trips tracking bear, moose, elk and deer.

A Celebration of his life will be Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church, Tonkawa, Oklahoma with the Rev. Michael Brannon officiating. Interment will follow in the Tonkawa I.O.O.F. Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Tonkawa Funeral Home, Tonkawa, Oklahoma.

Pallbearers will be Arlin Cales, Mickey Cantwell, J.C. Fath, Bob Diemer, Ray Frazier and Calvin Crumrine.

He is survived by his wife, Gail of the home: his sons, Kris Ditmore of Spencer, Iowa, Kent Ditmore and wife, Dianna of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Curtis Ditmore and his wife, Kevin also of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; two granddaughters, Christa Ramey and her husband, Quentin of Edmond, Oklahoma, Leah Ditmore of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; twin great granddaughters, Kaelyn and Landri Ramey and his loving border collie, Ike.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Pat Thompson.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Tonkawa in care of Tonkawa Funeral Home, 400 E. Grand Ave. Tonkawa, Oklahoma 74653.

Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.tonkawafh.com

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