Lifetime nurse and hospital volunteer
Biography
Betty Ruth Brown Oldham was born on June 17, 1932, at the Brown farm 13 miles northwest of Buffalo, Oklahoma. She was the second child out of six children born to Halbert and Nadean Brown. Betty has 4 brothers and 1 sister.
Betty graduated from Buffalo High School in May, 1950. She moved to Tulsa to attend St. John Hospital School of Nursing in September, 1950. Betty graduated from nursing school in June, 1953. She worked at St. John Hospital for 9 years in the I.V. department.
Betty met Kenneth Oldham in March 1954 at St. John Hospital where his grandfather was receiving infusions from the IV Department. They dated and then married in October, 1954. She and Ken had 5 children–Madolyn Oldham LaMonica, Edward Oldham, Paula Oldham Watson, Mary Oldham O’Dell, and Kenneth H. Oldham. The Oldham family moved to Claremore in 1967 where Ken and Betty had established B & K Clothing. All 5 children graduated from Claremore High School.
After the passing of Ken, Betty re-entered into the nursing profession. She worked for 17 years at Claremore Regional Hospital as Charge Nurse of the Medical/Surgical floor. She is lovingly called the nurse who wore the white hat. After retiring in 2004, Betty continues to serve the community by volunteering weekly with the Hillcrest Claremore Hospital Auxiliary.