Charles (Chuck) T Klein, 95, died on December 2, 2009. He was born in Wichita, KS on June 23, 1914, to Blanche Thackeray and Charles Klein. The family moved to Tulsa in 1919. Charles graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1932. He attended the University of Kansas and transferred to the University of Michigan where he received his BA and Juris Doctor Degrees. Charles returned to Tulsa to practice law and joined the Harper, Williams, and Boeche Law Firm. He also joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard. In 1941 the squadron was called into active duty and given 21 days to report to Fort Lewis, WA. He had just enough time to marry his sweetheart, Mary Helen Frueauff, at her home in New York City. From 1941 to 1946 Charles served in the US Army Air Corps. He was a Combat Observer and Squadron Intelligence Officer with the 13th Bomber Command, 13th Air Force in the South and Southwest Pacific Theaters. He was discharged in 1946 as a Lt Colonel in the USAF Reserve. Charles then joined Cities Service Oil Co in Bartlesville, OK as an attorney in the Legal Division. He spent the next 29 years in the oil and gas industry. In 1960, he became Vice President and Director of Cities Service Gas Co in Oklahoma City. In 1965 he became the President and Director of Northwest Pipeline Corp and moved to Salt Lake City, UT. Charles retired in 1977. He and Mary Helen moved to Wickenburg, AZ, where Charles enjoyed golf and taking trail rides. He was a 20-year member of the Desert Caballeros.
He was President of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum. The Charles T. Klein pavilion was named in his honor and dedicated at The Western Museum in March 2007. He was a charter Life member of Los Caballeros Golf Club. Charles was a long-time member of the American Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association. Charles moved to Tulsa in 2002 and become a resident of Inverness Village where he enjoyed making many new friends and was near to his family. Charles was predeceased by his wife, Mary Helen Klein (October 1984), and niece, Ann Patterson Dobley. Survivors include brothers, Robert Klein, and wife, Frankie, Grove, OK, Hugh Klein, Somers, NY and sister, Beverly Patterson and husband, Sid, Tulsa, OK. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be held at Inverness Village, Tulsa, OK, on January 8 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to the Inverness Village Fund, 3800 W. 71st, Tulsa, OK 74132, and the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ. Moore’s Southlawn 663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com.