Harold Culver Theus was born in Homer, Louisiana, September 26, 1915, the second of three sons born to Reverend Edgar G. Theus, a Nazarene Minister, and Lura Ethel Green Theus. He passed away November 26, 2009, at his home, at the age of 94, after a long and eventful life: from minister of the gospel to National Guard Chaplain, to military pilot, to peace officer, to prosecutor, to jet fighter pilot to Judge. After graduation from Capitol Hill High School, Harold received a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Bethany Peniel College in 1937 and had already enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard.When the 45th Infantry Division was called to active duty in 1940, he went to Fort Sill and Camp Barkeley as a chaplain. The Army Air Corps, however, needed pilots, so the young ordained minister applied for and was accepted for fighter pilot training. Syndicated newspapers throughout the country ran photos and stories about the "Flying Chaplain" who wanted to practice what he preached. "I'm not asking anyone to fight in my place," Harold said. "My father has taught me to pray for things, then roll up my sleeves and go to work." He gave the term, "sky pilot," a new name, and spent the rest of World War II in the Army Air Corps. After leaving the Army Air Corps in 1945, Harold enrolled in law school at O.U. and worked at night as a deputy in the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office to help pay his way through school. Harold was elected President of his senior law class.After graduation from law school, he became an Assistant to the Oklahoma County Attorney, prosecuting felony cases.Harold later moved from the County Attorney's office to private law practice until 1949, when he moved with his daughter, Janet, and wife, Imogene, to Washington, D.C., where he was Legislative Counsel for the National Reserve Officers Association, fighting for veteran benefits for the new U.S. Air Force.When the Korean War broke out, Harold returned to active duty and was assigned to the office of the Secretaries of Defense, General George C. Marshall and Robert Lovett, at the Pentagon.Harold applied for active flight duty and went to Seoul, Korea, as a liaison officer coordinating Army troop movements and Naval and Air Force actions. Preparation for this included 33 missions as an F-86 fighter pilot, front line assignments with the U.S. Air Force, and assignment aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Oriskeny. He was twice decorated for valor in combat. After Korea he continued in the Air Force Reserve until his retirement in 1975 as a Lieutenant Colonel, having served his country 40 years during war and peace.In 1955 Harold returned to private law practice in Oklahoma City until he was appointed as First Assistant to the County Attorney and Chief of both the civil and criminal divisions. In 1960 Harold defeated the incumbent County Judge and served three terms. In 1966 he was elected District Judge of Oklahoma County, where he served until his retirement in 1981 after 21 years of judicial service.From 1971-1978 Judge Theus was elected by his fellow judges as Presiding Judge of the Oklahoma-Canadian County Judicial administrative District, serving until he was relieved of the additional administrative duties at his request.In 1974 he married Dolores "Dee" Drumm, and they enjoyed almost 35 years of fellowship and love with each of their extended families.Judge Theus was a member of the Oklahoma County and State Bar Associations, the American Bar Association and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.While on the bench, he served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City Mental Health Clinic, worked with the YMCA and Boy Scouts of America and was a member of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. Judge Theus was a past member of the Men's Dinner Club, and was the first Oklahoma member of the National Association of Metropolitan Courts. Harold was a member of the Eastern Avenue Church in Moore, and the Surrey Hills Country Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, Knights Commander Court of Honor, India Temple Shrine, and past member of the Royal Order of Jesters. In 1973 he was named Boss of the Year by the OKC chapter of the American Business Women's Association.While serving on the Bench, Judge Theus was a leader in the movement for Judicial Reform and Improvement of Judicial Administration in Oklahoma. In 1979, 1980 and 1981, under appointment by the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, he was co-author of the Criminal and Civil Bench Books for the guidance and assistance of all trial judges of Oklahoma.Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Edgar Gray and C. Ralph; and Janet's mother, Imogene Dawson Theus. He is survived by his wife, Dolores, of the home; his daughter, Janet Theus, of Oklahoma City; step-daughter, Terry (James) Drew, Mabelvale, Arkansas; step-son, Clipper (Candice) Drumm, Oklahoma City; granddaughter, Dana Theus (Rick) Paddock, Arlington, Virginia; and grandson, Scott Rodgers, Oklahoma City. Also two great-grandsons of Arlington, Virginia; seven step-grandchildren; eleven step-great-grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Jan Theus, of Arlington, Texas.The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the services of Valir Hospice during Harold's illness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association , 3555 N.W. 56th Street, Suite 220, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, www.alzfdn.org, or a charity of choice.Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, in the Chapel Hill Funeral Home chapel, Pastor Harvey Spear of Eastern Avenue Church officiating, with interment following in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Published in The Oklahoman on November 29, 2009
Family Members
Parents
Rev Edgar Gary Theus Sr
1877–1976
Lura Ethel Green Theus
1890–1976
Spouse
Imogene Dawson Theus
1917–2007 (m. 1936)
Siblings
Edgar Gary Theus Jr
1913–1994
