Lillie Mae Kruger

Lillie Mae Kubala , 92, died August 16, 2013. She was born on November 26, 1920, the fourth of 5 children of Czech parents Joseph C. and Millie Kubala. During the Great Depression her oldest brother Jody, fiercely proud, declined Holiday turkey donations because "We don't take handouts." He protected sisters Janie, Bennie, Lillie and Dorothy, who picked cotton in harvest, from harm. Nourished by Millie's still treasured homemade bread from hundred pound bags of flour, carried on foot from the mill where her father and brother worked, as well as smoked meat cedar chests, mailed from relatives in her homeland, they prevailed. Accomplished on the violin, Lillie (at only 17), and older sister Bennie sought a better life in Oklahoma City, where Lillie graduated from Business College and went on to become supervisor of the steno pool of a large insurance company. Thereafter, she always favored writing in shorthand. She was recruited for dramatic reading ensembles on the radio and was a regular actress on the radio. She met the love of her life at a U.S.O. dance, when Albert William Kruger, Jr., an accountant, just returned from WWII, vowed to dance with, "The prettiest girl there" or leave. Fortunately, she said yes and a beautiful story began. They married, had 3 children, Nancy Elizabeth, Albert William, III, and James Patrick. The family visited her relatives in El Reno every week. She became a trusted partner and advisor in business matters. Her love, devotion and encouragement provided precious memories of St. Charles Bombers, Girl Scout Campouts, and exotic family vacations across the country and beyond, to beaches, World Fairs, historic landmarks, and famous attractions. Such family traditions enabled the profound closeness and devotion that would sustain them all their life. Lillie's grace, class, tact and empathy blossomed through generation after generation of devoted descendants. Children fascinated her. She regarded each individual's uniqueness, cherished each for them, engendering self esteem, optimism and confidence and success. She was the best listener/conversationalist many people said they ever met. She accomplished all this in her gentle, modest, humble, unassuming way. Her generosity was profound. Her counsel to her children was essential. Children grown, the couple embarked on world travel. With insatiable curiosity, physical fitness, laughter and wit they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on August 8, 1999. Life was a cup runneth over, and Lillie still enjoyed travel well into her 90's. She exemplified living the unpretentious Christian Life better than most. She never complained and was much admired as a trooper, a privilege, a blessing and a delight to all.