Obituary of Reba Nitz
Reba Corina Binns Nitz, known to her family as Aunt Re, from Tulsa, was 89 years old when she passed away in her home on Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
Known for her loving spirit, calm demeanor and positive outlook on life, Reba was endeared by her family and many friends. She was a woman of immense character, devoted to the Lord and her family, who was always willing to help anyone at a moments’ notice. She always saw the best in people and treated everyone with respect and dignity.
Born June 24, 1930, in Sapulpa, OK to James Oscar Binns, Sr. and Alma Coleman Binns, Reba was the fourth born of seven siblings. It wasn’t long after she graduated from Kellyville High School in 1948, that she met her husband of 68 years, Jack Nitz and they began their life adventure together.
Out of high school Reba worked as a secretary and bookkeeper in Sapulpa. Reba went to work for Employers Mutual of Wausau and moved to Dallas. While working there she met Bobbie Wiese and her friend Bobbie was married to an air traffic controller stationed at Hensley Field in Grand Prairie, TX who worked with Jack Nitz in the Central Tower. Bobbie arranged a blind date for Reba and Jack in the summer of 1951 and the rest is history.
On November 2, 1951, Reba married Jack Nitz in the First Baptist Church Parsonage of Rockwell, Texas under the direction of Reverend Glenn N. Ross. After marriage, the couple continued to live in Dallas, where Jack was stationed at the Naval Air Station as an Airman. He remained there until the spring of 1952, while Reba worked for Employer’s Mutual of Wausau as a claims correspondent.
After just four months of marriage Jack was sent to the South Pacific. He served as a Petty Officer 3rd Class while stationed in Guam, Marianas Island. Meanwhile, Reba was transferred to the Employer’s Mutual of Wausau’s office in Los Angeles, California.
After the death of Reba’s father, James Oscar Binns (November 1952), Jack returned to the States and together they lived in San Diego, California. Jack continued in the Navy until 1957, until he went out as an Air Traffic Controller, Petty Officer 1st Class. During that time, Reba worked as the Liaison Secretary for Convair, Fort Worth representative in residence at Rohr Aircraft in Chula Vista, CA on the Project B-58 Hustler.
The couple moved to Oklahoma in 1957 where Jack enrolled at Tulsa University to study botany and Reba began working for Southwest Insurance Adjustment Company in Tulsa.
In 1961, Reba and Jack began a career of transferring. Jack was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air-traffic controller and was first stationed in Abilene, TX, then Lake Charles, LA, followed by Tulsa Riverside Airport and later Tulsa International Airport. Jack returned to Tulsa Riverside where he remained until his retirement in 1981.
Jack and Reba were very involved with family and worked to lay down roots in the Tulsa area. They began building their dream home in Jenks at 1010 West 101st Street. Together they built their home from the ground up, which was not without trial. While preparing for their house-warming party in 1974, “The Flood of ‘74” hit Jenks. Before they knew it, their home was filled with a foot of water. Reba and Jack then began the arduous task, in 1975, of raising their home and rebuilding it to be two-story. It was finally completed in 1987.
Reba and Jack loved to host friends and family at the “ole” fire pit on 101st. There was always fun to be had while many tall tales were shared around the fire with a frosty mug of Iron City beer. Few could forget the iron water they drew from their well. Although Aunt Re and U.J. were accustomed to the taste; the nieces and nephews would shudder and soon learned to bring their own water when visiting.
In 1979 an airplane crashed just 100 feet south of their house. Reba and Jack nobly assisted the crew during the tragedy and were featured on all three Tulsa news channels.
Reba and Jack remained at 1010 West 101st for 26 years, until the Creek Turnpike acquired their home and property by eminent domain in 1991. In February of that year they moved to 91st Street and Union and have lived there for the past 28 years.
Finally retiring for good in the spring of 1992, Reba and Jack took up the hobby of wood carving. As their skill and passion grew, so did their involvement in the wood carving community. They were very active in the Northeast Oklahoma Wood Carver’s Association where Jack served as president.
Reba loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children and many of them enjoyed going on an adventure or two with Aunt Re and U.J. These usually, revolved around her love for the outdoors. From backpacking in Colorado to cross-country and downhill skiing in the Rockies, and camping all over Oklahoma, she experienced many wonderful adventures with Jack and her beloved family and friends.
Shortly before her passing, Reba and Jack celebrated 68 years of marriage. A marriage that survived floods, mud, airplane crashes, and all the Binns’ clan. She enjoyed traveling, camping, reading, woodcarving and hollering at Jack, but above all, she enjoyed the company of her family, especially her beloved nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents James Oscar, Sr., and Alma Coleman Binns, two brothers Charles Lee (Chuck) Binns and his wife Odell and James Oscar (J.O.) Binns, Jr. and his wife Elnora, two sisters Alma Jean “Jeannie” Binns Lewis and Carmeleta Annabel “Moe” Binns Smith, one brother in-law Edward Glen “Bill” McAnulty and one niece Cathie Binns Fox.
A memorial service is planned for Reba on Monday, January 6th at 1:30PM, at the First Baptist Church Kellyville, 306 East Camden, Kellyville, OK under the direction of Green Hills Funeral Home, Sapulpa. The services will be conducted by Reverend Dustin Long, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kellyville.
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In Loving Memory
Reba Nitz
1930 - 2019
