Richard Harold Gilliland was born in Spokane, WA on January 8, 1916. He died on April 3, 2005 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital after a brief illness. He was the youngest of seven children born to Edward Taylor Gilliland and Effa Mae Unger Gilliland. In 1923, after the death of both his parents, Dick was brought to Clinton, OK to live with his uncle and aunt, Clem and Marion Gilliland, who later adopted him. He attended Clinton Public Schools, graduating in 1933. In the summer of 1932, he met his future wife, Jo Wade Thornton, who had moved to Clinton with her mother. Dick attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and graduated in 1937 with a B.S. in Accounting. Immediately after college he returned to Clinton and worked in the family funeral home. In late 1938 he moved to Oklahoma City and began working as an insurance adjuster. Dick and Jo Wade were married on October 28, 1939 at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. Also in 1939, he began attending law school at night. In September 1942 he was inducted into the U.S. Army. Dick left for the Pacific in August 1945. During the trip the bombing of Hiroshima occurred, and he was in Manila when the peace treaty was signed. Due to his background in claims investigation and law school, he was assigned to a unit that debriefed returning P.O.W.s. Later, he was transferred to Tokyo and began working with the International Prosecution Section of AFPAC. He was detailed to locate documented evidence of war crimes. In 1946 Dick returned to civilian life in Oklahoma City, continuing to work as an insurance adjuster and attending law school. He continued to serve in the Army reserves, both active and inactive, until his retirement in 1976 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After graduating from law school in 1947, Dick chose not to sit for the bar, but in 1948 he formed his first insurance agency with long time friend and business partner James McEldowney. Dick continued to work as an independent insurance agent until his retirement in 1994. After retirement he devoted himself to caring for his wife, Jo Wade, who preceded him in death in February 2003. Also during these years he enjoyed volunteering in the Tinker AF Base Pharmacy and more recently as a driver for Mobile Meals. During his life many things brought him great joy: entertaining family and friends, sailing, attending the symphony and listening to classical music, reading, telling jokes and stories, playing bridge, dancing and always learning more. He was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral until his death, serving on various committees, including several terms on the Vestry. His family and friends admired and loved him for his honesty, loyalty, intelligence, thirst for knowledge and great sense of humor. Dick and his beloved Jo Wade are survived by their four children, Diane L. Parker, Terry D. Gilliland, James S. (Buck) Gilliland all of Oklahoma City and Mary Ann Johnson of El Reno; also eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his brother Robert E. Gilliland of Seattle, WA; his nephew Brian Rusk of Amarillo, TX; Jo Wade's sister Judy Higgenbotham of Houston, TX, and many other cousins, nieces and nephews.-------------------------
One last piece on information. Richard's adoptive father W. Clem was buried in Clinton Cemetery (Memorial #59842977)

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