Milburn Jarrell Dowling

Milburn Jarrell Dowling, 91, of Broken Arrow formerly of Eufaula, passed away Friday, January 18, 2013 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. Milburn was born on September 22, 1921, in Greenville, Texas, the son of Ralph and Ora Long Dowling. He moved to Brady, Texas in 1929 where he graduated high school. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas for two years with a business administration major. Milburn worked at Frost National Bank and the Duncan Field Army Base in San Antonio. He later moved to Oklahoma City choosing to go to Tinker Field because of advancement opportunities. He was supervisor of Supply Branch 1 that oversaw the Norden Bomb Site facility (among other things) for 4 years. Milburn met Emogene Burdine, who became his secretary. They were married on January 29, 1944 in Grace Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. In 1945, the couple moved to Eufaula. Milburn and his brother-in-law, Rex Burdine, purchased and operated the Chief and Palace movie theaters in Eufaula for 30 years. He served on Eufaula’s school board for five years. Milburn was elected Eufaula’s 1st Chamber of Commerce president. During his tenure, the Eufaula County Fair was established and Lake Eufaula was officially opened. He received 2 community achievement awards one of which was presented to him by aspiring actor, Ronald Reagan. In 1958, Milburn and Rex established the Decoy Sporting Goods, where they worked for 25 years. Milburn loved to golf. He moved to Broken Arrow after the death of his wife in 2002 to be closer to his daughter. Survivors include: his daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn Chronister and Dr. Gary Chronister of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; his grandson, Dr. Justin Chronister and wife Dr. Stacy Chronister of Corpus Christi, Texas and his great grandson, Cade Chronister also of Corpus Christi, Texas. Milburn is preceded in death by his wife, Emogene Dowling, his parents, Ralph & Ora L. Dowling, his sister, Augusta Hughes and his brother, Ralph Dowling.