Charles "Tootie" Wilmoth

Charles Wesley "Tootie" Wilmoth was born September 15, 1937 in Idabel, Oklahoma to Charles "Charlie" and Marie Wilmoth.  He went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 25, 2019 at the age of 81 after a long struggle with several health issues.  Tootie was a 1956 graduate of Idabel High School where he participated in several sports, excelling in baseball.  In 1958, two very significant events happened in his life.  First, he purchased his initial business, a restaurant located at 105 South Central in Idabel, which he named Tootie's Steak House.  Second and most importantly, he married his high school sweetheart, Lillian Ruth Holman.  Besides having and raising four children, Tootie continued his "entrepreneurial" ways over the years, owning various businesses, including Tootie's Steak House, Sherry's Drive Inn in Broken Bow, Western Auto and Derryberry Oil Company in Idabel, and Tootie's by the Lake in Hochatown.  He also earned his health and life insurance licenses in the 1980's and sold insurance in his "spare time" until finally retiring at the age of 73.  Tootie was very active in the community as a member of the Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, local and state politics, coaching Pee-Wee, Little and Pony League Baseball, especially when his boys were playing, and just about anything else that he could stick his nose into.  Tootie was also an avid football fan and had an officiating crew that worked Junior High and JV games in Idabel and High School games throughout Southeastern Oklahoma until he retired from his referee career in 1974.  He was also an avid golfer and always enjoyed playing poker, especially if there was a wager involved.  The center of Tootie's life was his family.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Marie, and his brother William "Willie".  Tootie is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Lillian, and his four children Mark and his wife Deb of Tulsa; Lorrie and her husband Stoney of Haworth, and sons Joe of Dallas and Steve of Idabel.  Tootie also has 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren (and counting).  For many years he was a member of the Redland United Methodist Church where a celebration of his life will be held on Friday, August 30 at 10:00 a.m.  Arrangements are being handled by White Family Funeral Home in Idabel.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 29 at the funeral home.   

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