In Memory of Oscar Stover

August 7, 1989

Charles Oscar, son of Addie Mae (Wood) and Charles Robert Stover was born April 15, 1913 at Coffeyville, Kansas. He passed away at Share Medical Center on the 3rd of August at the age of 76 years, 3 months and 19 days.

He began his musical training on drums at age six, and joined the community school band in his hometown of Coffeyville, Kansas, when he was in the sixth grade, then switched to cornet when he was a Junior in High School. He graduated from Washington High School in Coffeyville, Kansas, with the Class of 1930. 

On August 23, 1936 he was married to Catherine Cooper at Columbus, Kansas. 

He holds degrees from Coffeyville Junior College, and B.S. and M.S. degrees from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, and did doctoral work at Michigan State University. His first teaching position was in Coffeyville, where he taught Junior High School vocal and general music courses. In 1942 he was hired by his alma mater, Kansas State Teachers College [Pittsburg] as band director and instructor of brass instruments. 

In August of 1942 he was inducted into the United States Army, where he served in the European Theater, and was discharged in January 1946. 

In 1947 he left Pittsburg to accept the dual position of instructor of Music at Coffeyville Junior College and Supervisor of Music in the Coffeyville Public Schools. From 1953 through 1960 he was employed at Michigan State University as brass and percussion instructor, Assistant Director of Bands and Director of the summer youth program. In 1960, he came to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva as Director of Bands and Chairman of the Music Department, retiring in 1976. He continued to teach part-time at Northwestern, while remaining active in the Alva community. 

He served on the advisory board of the Slingerland Drum Company from 1936 to1968 [sic. 1956-1968], and on the President's Advisory Committee for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. from 1970 to 1975. 

He was a member of the NEA, Music Education National Association, National Committees, College Band Director's National Association, Oklahoma Education Association, Oklahoma Music Education Association State Committees, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu State President, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Member, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, Rotary Club, local President and Paul Harris Fellow, Alva Presbyterian Church - Elder, Choir Director and Advisory Committee. 

Oscar's honors included Author of Article in Marching Bands and Majorettes on Parade Magazine in 1954; Rudimental Warm-up Routine 1957; Who's Who in South and Southwest 1972-1972; Outstanding Teacher Coffeyville Public Schools 1952; teacher of the year Northwestern State College 1968-1969; worked with Miss Oklahoma local pageants and Oklahoma State Pageant for a number of years, inducted in Oklahoma Music Education Association Hall of Fame in January, 1989, served as an adjudicator at Enid Tri-State for 26 years, presented the Alva Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Music Award in 1976, listed in Outstanding Educators of America in 1973, and World Who's Who of Musicians. He has served as clinician and adjudicator across the United States and has toured Europe numerous times with instrumental music ensembles. He was director of Blue Lake Fine Arts Junior Music Camp in Twin Lakes, Michigan the summer of 1987. 

Mr. Stover was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Harold. 

Oscar is survived by his wife Catherine of the home; and a brother and his wife, Hubert A. ["Pete"] and Jean of Coffeyville, Kansas and their daughter, Peggy Farmer of Phoenix, Arizona; three brothers-in-law and their wives, Dr. Calvin Macy Cooper, Jr. and his wife Julia of Fort Scott, Kansas and their two children, Calvin III "Trey" and Jan Magee; Richard F. Cooper and his wife Verda of Columbus, Kansas and their two children, Richard E. Jr. and Carolyn Cassiday; and Dr. Donald Cooper and his wife Dona, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and their four children, Dr. Donald Jr., Catherine Fowler, Cheryl Conway and Tad Cooper. A number of great nicees, nephews, and many friends. 

-from the Memorial Service

Images from the Stover Archvies, 1952-1953

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