Individual Details

Josephine Clara (Whitby) Greenhaw, joined her Heavenly Father in His Beautiful Gardens, with her family all around her, on October 11, 2004 after a short illness. Josephine was born in Neodesha, Kansas on March 16, 1915 to Elwood P. and Clara (Durrin) Whitby. The family lived and farmed in the Neodesha area until the death of her father in 1927. Her widowed mother moved her three children to White River, South Dakota to be near family and to teach school. At the age at 16 Josephine came to Oklahoma City to live with her Aunt and Uncle Conrey and their three daughters. She attended Putnam City High School where she became editor of the school paper. She graduated in 1934. She had a good friend who’s father had a fruit and vegetable stand at the Public Market in Oklahoma City and she went to work for him. Across the aisle was a nice looking young man who soon hired her to work for him. She and Buford (Boots) Greenhaw married nine months later on March 5, 1935 and began a long and wonderful life together. They moved from the Public Market to a fruit stand and small convenience store on S.W. 29th and Shartel. In 1951 they opened their first Grocery Store in Midwest City on the N.W. corner of S.E. 29th and Air Depot. As Tinker and Midwest City grew, they grew with it, expanding to a store on N.E. 10th which they closed in 1996. They began buying land on the N.E. corner of 15th and Air Depot in 1952 where they later built and developed what today is Gateway Plaza Shopping Center. During these years they raised four children and later three grandchildren. Mother was very active in her children’s school years being president of P.T.A.’S. She was an active member of a China Painting Club and Garden Clubs. She has been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, OK since 1944. Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Margaret of S. Dakota and one grandson, Gregory Hulsey. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years. Two sons, Clinton and wife Sharon of Edmond, OK; Charles and wife Carla of Oklahoma City. Two daughters, Bobbie Jean Tritten and husband Ronald, of Norman, OK; Cleta Newell and husband Oran of Nash and Wakita, Okla.; grandchildren Clint Greenhaw, and wife Diana; Deborah Nelson, and Annette Greenhaw, all of MWC; Ronnie Tritten and wife Vanessa of Crowley, TX; Kelvin Tritten of MWC, Kathy Childers and husband Jerry of Seminole, OK, Karen Quartuccio and husband Chuck of Norman, OK; Steven Hulsey and wife Chrystal of Blanchard, OK, Jeff Hulsey and wife Kristy of Wichita, KS; Christa English and husband Jon of Norman, and Coby Greenhaw and wife Shelly of OKC; twenty two great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. She is also survived by her brother Elwood Whitby and wife Alice of Anaheim, CA and many nephews and nieces. Mother loved working in her garden, swimming, reading and visiting with her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Services will he held on Friday, Oct. 15, in the Louise Prichard Chapel of the First Baptist Church of OKC at 2:00 P.M. Reverends Jay Allen and Ronnie Tritten will preside.

Published in the Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Thursday, October 14, 2004, Page 11A.

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Birth	16 Mar 1915	Neodesha, Wilson County, Kansas
Marriage	5 May 1935	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma - Buford Clinton "Boots" Greenhaw
Census (family)	2 Apr 1940	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma - Buford Clinton "Boots" Greenhaw
Death	11 Oct 2004	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Obituary	14 Oct 2004	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Burial		Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

Spouse	Buford Clinton "Boots" Greenhaw (1911 - 2004)
Child	Living
Child	Buford Clinton Greenhaw II (1937 - 2011)
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Annette Marie Greenhaw (1957 - 2016)
Child	Deborah Kaye Greenhaw (1957 - 2017)

Notes