Julian Nightingale

Julian Nightingale left this life on January 16, 2018. Julian Nightingale was born on September1, 1923 in Fairview, Oklahoma to John L. and Katharina Eck Nightingale. The family lived in Fairview until 1939, when they moved to a farm four miles east of Cleo Springs. Julian is a 1942 graduate of Cleo Springs High School. In 1943, during WWII, he joined the Army Air Corps (now known as the Air Force), serving in the Pacific. He returned to the farm to care for his mother. On June 2, 1956 he married Janie Stiles.

During his 94 years he continued to farm, while working for T.H. Rogers Lumber, in the oil fields and building houses throughout the area for C.A. Newton. His first focus was always on the farm. He had a love for gardening, especially tomatoes. He loved experimenting with new techniques and with trying to grow things that normally do not do well in this area. He also raised watermelons, with customers from all over the mid-west. Julian was a member of the Cleo Springs United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janie; his children, Julia Ann Roquemore and her husband, Jerry, Ralph Nightingale and his wife, Donna; five grandchildren, Katharina Slegar, Crystal Zanca, Julian Roquemore, Lacy Raines and Dalton Nightingale and six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by an infant son; his parents; his brother, John and three sisters, Florence Ratzlaff, Gloria Robb and Judith McFadden.

Funeral service for Julian will be Monday, January 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Cleo Springs United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at square Cedar Cemetery. Viewing will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.