Marvin Wesley Chiles

Marvin Wesley Chiles passed away April 22, 2018, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was the first-born son of Francis Wesley and Verda Irene Mays Chiles. He was born February 2, 1934, in a small farm house near Zenith, Kansas in Stafford County on land his grandparents Walter and Florence Browning Chiles once owned, and later his parents. He is a direct descendant of Walter Chiles, a 1638 settler of Jamestowne Island. He liked where he was born, the times in which he lived, and a life of special experiences and friendships. He attended Zenith Grade School through the eighth grade with six other classmates. The memories of that simple but sometimes hard life was a major part of who he became. It was a time of uncertainty during the Depression, Dust Bowl and World War II. In 1952, he graduated from Stafford High School as an honored athlete in football, basketball and track. He was Kansas High School's 440 Yard Dash Champion in 1952, named first team All-Conference in football and basketball in 1951 and 1952 and Honorable Mention All-State in football. He attended Kansas State University, initially with a full football scholarship, but after his freshman year, chose to become a full scholarship sprinter for the track team. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and graduated in 1957 with a B.S. in Agriculture Economics. After a brief time as a life insurance salesman, he became a Professional Independent Insurance Adjuster for 18 years with General Adjustment Bureau and Askew Associates, Inc. in Pittsburg and Arkansas City, Kansas, and Oklahoma City. In 1976, he was one of the Founders, General Adjuster and President of Western Claims, Inc. in Oklahoma City. He retired in 1996. He was the Oklahoma Claims Men Association President in 1972, the Oklahoma Claims Men Association Claims Man of the Year in 1975, and the Oklahoma City Claims Men Association President in 1970. He was an active member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City for four decades. He was given leadership positions in the church and participated in the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference as an Annual Conference Delegate for 20 years, Church and Society Commission member, Religion and Race Commission member and a member of the Board of Directors of Langston University Wesley Foundation. In 1997, he received the Commission on Race and Religion Award from the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference for his commitment and actions and in 2003 was awarded the Oklahoma Annual Human Rights Award on behalf of the State of Oklahoma Human Rights Commission. He was a founding Board Member of the Oklahoma Interfaith Alliance and Interfaith Alliance Foundation. For 12 years he also served as a Board Member for the national Interfaith Alliance, Washington, DC. On August 14, 1954, he married Mary Ellen McKibben Chiles, his childhood sweetheart and beloved wife of 57 years. This union was one of a special love, joy and strength with three daughters - Cyrena, Cynthia and Jennifer, and four grandchildren - Matthew, Andrew, Erin and Alex. Their young family began in Pittsburg and then to Arkansas City, Kansas, and finally Oklahoma City. Mary Ellen died on October 25, 2011, in Oklahoma City. In the last years of his life, Patricia Green became his best friend and soul mate. It was a new life for both after the death of their spouses from Alzheimer's. They continued to live their lives to the fullest, waiting for more unknown events and further instructions. He is survived by his three daughters, Cyrena Chiles Eitler and husband Tom, Prince William, Virginia; Cynthia Marie Eckart and husband David, Norman, Oklahoma; and Jennifer Ann Chiles, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; four grandchildren, Andrew and Alex Eitler and Matthew and Erin Eckart; his brother, Dennis Eugene Chiles and wife Barbara Jean; and two nieces, Amy Ast and Amanda Hillman. A brother, Rodney Dwayne Chiles, and son-in-law, Robert Norwood Rodgers, preceded him in death. Throughout his life he was committed to action and support of issues in which he believed. He was a kind and loving man, quietly touching the lives of many. Visitation will be Sunday, April 29 from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at Smith & Kernke, North May. The funeral service will be held Monday, April 30 at 10 a.m. at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at 4 p.m. in Stafford, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Marvin's memory be made to Alzheimer's Association of Oklahoma, 2448 E. 81st Street, Suite 3000, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137 (http://www.alz.org/oklahoma/).