Dr. Loy Elbert Puffinbarger
1937-2024
It is with great sadness that the family of Loy Puffinbarger announces his passing on January 22, 2024. He was 86 years old. Loy Elbert Puffinbarger was born June 17, 1937, at his family's farmhouse in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma to parents, Elmer Ray and Jessie Puffinbarger. He was the youngest of 8 children, affectionately the "baby" to his siblings. After high school he attended Pratt Junior College in Kansas and graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with plans to teach. While teaching 8th grade math in Woodward, he was introduced to his future wife, Elizabeth "Anne" Cronin. They married in December of 1962 in Fairview, OK. Taking advantage of a Science Foundation Grant, they both earned their master's degrees in education at Oklahoma State University. Loy began his collegiate teaching career at Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) in 1964. During a sabbatical year, he earned his doctorate and returned to Edmond where he taught the highest level of mathematics until he retired from UCO in 1994. In addition to his responsibilities in the university classroom, Loy helped with the launch of one of the first STEM programs in Oklahoma for high school students and mentored and monitored entry-level secondary school math teachers across central Oklahoma.
Throughout his life, Loy's work ethic was remarkable. He remodeled homes with his uncle to pay for college and later with his university officemate, he built and maintained several rental homes in Edmond. At his and Anne's farms he sprayed noxious weeds, built and maintained fencing, cut cedars and most everything else that needed doing. For decades, he was an ardent supporter and regular volunteer at The Meadows Center for Opportunity, a sheltered workshop. He was a faithful servant of the First United Methodist Church where nearly 60 years ago, he and his wife started the Emmanuel Sunday school class. In addition, he devoted time and effort to multiple church committees and his talents to many projects large and small. Around 2008, he and Anne created a group home in Edmond for intellectually disabled adults and shortly thereafter they founded the Fretzpark Homes, Inc. The not-for-profit organization now employs close to 300 persons and serves scores of clients with intellectual disabilities. Most remarkably, he and Anne could always find time to babysit grandchildren and help family and friends in need.
Loy loved to hunt, fish and spend time at the family farms. He was "early to bed and early to rise." You could find him most mornings around 5 hanging out at one of the local coffee shops or restaurants, spending time with his friends and making new ones. In life, he epitomized the advice he often gave us, "be kind and calm."
Loy was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer, & Jessie Puffinbarger, sisters, Clytice, Clarice, and Muriel and brothers, Marvin (Si), Herschel (Cotton), Lynn and Fay.
Loy is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Anne Puffinbarger, son, William Puffinbarger and spouse, Nikola, daughter, Leah Puffinbarger, and daughter, Belinda (Renee) and spouse Thomas Burnett and grandchildren, Christian Burnett, Aaron Puffinbarger, Daniel Burnett, Seth Puffinbarger, Samuel Puffinbarger and Cailtlyn Burnett and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family asks if you would kindly consider making a donation to Fretzpark Homes Inc. in memory of Loy. You can make donations online by clicking the link HERE .
Visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m., Monday, January 29th at Matthews Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at First United Methodist Church in Edmond, OK with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery Oklahoma City, OK.