Lina Steele Reynolds
1924-2023
Lina Steele Reynolds was born October 26, 1924, in Bartlesville, OK the third of seven children born to Burr Roach and Marguerite (Dunlap) Reynolds, and she died on August 13, 2023, in Oklahoma City, OK.
She graduated from Bartlesville College High School in 1942 and then attended Bartlesville Junior College. She started working in the insurance industry in Bartlesville in 1943 and moved to Oklahoma City in 1946 where she continued working for fifty- four years until her retirement from C.L. Frates and Co. in December 1997.
Lina Steele taught at the Independent Insurance Agents school in Norman for two years and served as Moderator as well as Assistant Dean and Dean of the School during her tenure. Through her work at the school, she also assisted with Project Invest School at Capitol Hill High School to help students learn about the banking and insurance business and operate a business within the class. She was a member of the National Association of Insurance Women, the Insurance Women’s Association of Oklahoma City, and Theta Chi Chapter of the Phi Tau Omega Sorority.
With deep faith in God, Lina Steele attended and was a Charter Member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. She served for three years on the Board of Deacons and was a member of the Martha Circle group.
A gifted china painter, Lina Steele won many blue ribbons for her work at the Oklahoma State Fair for which she was very proud. She painted many beautiful plates and Christmas ornaments which she generously shared with family and friends. She was a member of the World Organization of China Painters and the Leisure China Painters.
Lina Steele loved OU Football and had season tickets for many years, and she would occasionally take along a niece or nephew to a game. As most of her extended family are OSU fans, she relished the opportunities to sing Boomer Sooner whenever possible to keep the Bedlam pot stirred!
Never having married, Lina Steele was admired by her family for her independent spirit and with the help of her nieces and nephews was able to remain in her home until very recently. She was sharp of mind and wit until her last days.
Lina Steele is survived and loved by many nieces and nephews. Drucilla Reynolds Cessac of San Antonio, TX; Sharon Fitch Melrose (Dan) of Enid, OK; David Fitch (Mickey) of Bixby, OK; Janice Richter (David) of Ponca City, OK; Phyllis Hilterbran (Steve) of Edmond, OK; Cheryl Matthews (James) of Hampton Cove, AL; Lori McMillin (Wayne) of Ada, OK; Debbie Murray Overturf (Alan) of Afton, OK; Mike Murray (Susie) of Edmond, OK; Tom Murray (Karen) of Clinton, OK; Andy Murray (Karen) of Katy, TX; Pat Murray (Chris), Elmwood Park, IL; and many great-great nieces and nephews
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, Margarette Louise Reynolds, Helen Ann Fitch (Jack), Lucy Ellen Murray (Robert), Roberta Elaine Thomas (Ivan Dean) and two brothers Burr Dunlap Reynolds (LaFaye) and James William Reynolds (E. Louise), and nieces Burnell Reynolds Cooper, Jamie Lou Reynolds, Kimberly Louise Reynolds, Christie Ann Reynolds, and a nephew Darrel Wayne Thomas.
Memorial services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 18th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers memorials can be given in Lina’s name to the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to. To watch the service please follow this link: https://wpcokc.org/livestream .
Lina was a very dear and wonderful friend for many years . We painted together and laughed together and she will be missed greatly! Much love to her family and those sweet nieces that took care of her. Until we meet again dear friend.