Carol Ann Oldham

Carol Oldham, age 75, passed away in her home on Monday, November 6, 2023, surrounded by her family.  She was born on August 27, 1948 in Ada, OK to Eulene Vaughn and Orvil W. Junior Willoughby.  Eulene died of tuberculosis 3 years after Carol was born and Junior moved to New Mexico for work. His sister, Lavelle and her husband Colby moved there as well and Lavelle took care of Carol while Junior and Colby worked together.  After moving back to Oklahoma, Junior married Corine Hightower in January of 1952.  Corine had a son, Tom, who was Carol’s age and Larry was born later that year in September of 1952.

Carol began grade school in Vanoss, then moved to Irving grade school in Ada.  She graduated from Vanoss High School in 1966. Shortly after she graduated, she married Donnie Wayne Oldham on June 24, 1966, after Donnie had finished Army National Guard training that summer.  She attended Lela’s Beauty College in Ada, OK, commuting there from Savannah where she and Donnie lived.   They would eventually move to Stigler, OK in 1967.  Her son, Tracy, was born on January 16, 1971.

She worked as a hairdresser at various salons through the years before opening her first salon, “The Headquarters” in the mid-70s.  She would go on to open “Carol’s Back Door Salon” and “Carol’s Hair Palace and Treasure House”.  She had to stop working for a while due to health issues before returning to work as a substitute teacher for Stigler Public Schools and part-time as a hairdresser for other salons. In 2004, she joined KIBOIS Community Action Foundation, where she worked serving young adults with developmental disabilities for the next 10 years before retiring in 2014.

Carol was an active member of the First Assembly of God Church in Stigler for over 40 years.  She played the organ and almost never missed a service or the chance to serve others.  She volunteered her time serving elderly ladies in the church by styling their hair, taking them to appointments and bringing meals to their homes.  She was a great example of someone who lived a life of service.

Donnie passed away in 2009, and Carol continued to live in Stigler until moving to Edmond, OK in 2019, to be closer to Tracy and his family. 

Carol is survived by her son Tracy and his wife Brandy, her granddaughter Claire Cheatham and her husband Jacob Cheatham, her grandson Evan Oldham, and her brother, Larry Willoughby.  She is preceded in death by her husband Donnie, her brother Tom Willoughby, parents Junior and Corine Willoughby and her mother Eulene Vaughn Willoughby.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the The ALS Association – Oklahoma at https://www.als.org/oklahoma-service-area