Teddy Jack Bock

Obituary of Teddy (Ted) Jack Bock
September 9, 1931 - August 16, 2026
Ted was born to Chris and Gladys (Britt) Bock on September 9, 1931, at the family farm north of Guthrie, Oklahoma. He was welcomed by his brother Kenneth and sister Christine, and was the baby of the family for nine and a half years until Ronnie was born.
Ted started working in the fields at age 7. For his 10th birthday, his parents bought him his own cultivator. He was a dutiful, obedient, and respectful son who was always eager to help around the farm. Ted graduated from Guthrie High School in 1949, where he was an active member of FFA, served as reporter, and showed prize-winning pigs and sheep. After high school, he worked various jobs before landing a position on the Santa Fe Railroad, which ran right past the family farm.
When called to service during the Korean War, Ted fulfilled his duty through C.O. work in Larned, Kansas, alongside Robert Benson, Roy Meek, Kenneth Flynn, and later, Ed Sorrell.
In August 1953, at the Guthrie Campmeeting, he noticed a sweet young lady named Alta Perkins from Kellyville, Oklahoma. They became acquainted and fell in love. They were married on May 16, 1954, at the Church of God Chapel on US Route 66, north of Sapulpa. To this union four children were born: Beth, Colleen, Dwight, and Karen. Their children were greatly blessed with a home filled with consistent godliness, faithfulness, peace, and safety.
After finishing his C.O. work in Larned a few months into their marriage, Ted and Alta moved into a two-room house in the backyard of Sam and Hettie Barton in north Tulsa--Sam being the minister who performed their wedding ceremony. A few months after Beth was born, they moved across the road from Frankoma Pottery on historic Route 66. Colleen was born while they lived there, and a few months later, Ted's younger brother, Ronnie, came to live with them following his high school graduation after their mother passed away.
In late 1959, the family moved to West 61st Street near Tulsa, where they had built a two-car garage to live in temporarily. While living in the two-bedroom garage structure with no running water or indoor facilities, Dwight and Karen were born. Around this time, Ronnie married Alta's niece, Jeanie, and lived nearby. A few years later, Ted's father moved from the Guthrie farm to join Ted, Alta, and their four children. By then, Ted and Alta had built a four-bedroom home with their own hands, creating a cherished three-generation household. Though Ted worked long hours, he always helped plant a large garden, raise beef and milk cows, harvest and preserve the produce from the garden.
Upon moving to Tulsa from Larned, Ted worked as a painter with Ronnie, David Madden, Dutch Miller, Richard Madden Sr., Charles Smith, Alta's brother Leroy, and her nephew C.L. Welch. Together, they painted many new homes and motels during Tulsa's oil-fueled growth in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In May 1961, Ted joined the Tulsa Caterpillar dealership, where he worked faithfully until retiring after 33 years. In retirement, he looked forward to monthly luncheons with fellow Caterpillar retirees and friends right up until the month he fell.
Ted attended the Church of God his entire life, giving his heart to the Lord at a young age. He served as Deacon, Trustee, Secretary, and Treasurer for the local congregation north of Sapulpa for many years. He also served for decades as a trustee on the Oklahoma State Campmeeting Board in Guthrie and the National Campmeeting Board at Monark Springs, Missouri.
Following Alta's passing in 1999, Ted traveled extensively, enjoying trips to Germany, mission trips to Mexico, and numerous visits to Honduras, where he helped build a mission chapel, house, and school. He was affectionately known on these trips for packing and sharing Oreo cookies. Even as he grieved the loss of many lifelong friends over the years, Ted continued serving faithfully on the campgrounds, connecting with younger generations.
In recent years, Ted enjoyed the Monday Night Supper Club and gathering at Ronnie and Jeanie's "Party Barn" to play games and enjoy their warm hospitality.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Gladys; his wife, Alta (d. 1999); his daughter, Beth (d. 2016); his son, Dwight (d. 2026); his brother Kenneth and wife Hazel; his sister Christine and husband Paul Eck; and his nephew, Kenny Bock.
He is survived by his brother Ronnie and special sister-in-law, Jeanie Bock. Ted and Ronnie had a very close relationship, working together on their numerous projects, and saw each other almost every day and if they were not doing something together, they called each other.
He is also survived by his daughters Colleen (Marvin) Probst and Karen (Curtis) Williams; daughter-in-law Kim Bock; grandchildren Weston (Kristy) Probst, Chris (Beth) Probst, Nick Probst, Andrew (Valarie) Probst, Jessica (Michael) Sorrell, Matt (Megan) Williams, Teddy Bock, and Kelly (Olivia) Bock; great-grandchildren, Shea, Chantry, Tytus, Autumn, Jack, Madison, Peter, Eva, Jane, Emmelia, Alex, JB, Katie, Korbin, Lorelei, Abby, Henry, Lucas, Thompson, Adalie, and Emelyn; brother-in-law Elmer (Naomi) Perkins; sister-in-law Loretta Trowbridge; nephews Randy (Karen) Bock, Gary Eck, and Terry Eck; niece Alma Bock; and many extended members of the Perkins family.
Visitation Viewing will be held on Friday, Aug 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Sapulpa Church of the Nazarene 302 South Elm Street, Sapulpa. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, Aug 22 at 10:30 AM at Sapulpa Church of the Nazerene 302 South Elm Street, Sapulpa, with Interment at Green Hill Memorial Gardens. Arangements are in the care of Green Hill Funeral Home.