Obituary

Philip Emery Pinkstaff passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of July 22, 2021 in North Little Rock, Arkansas closely attended by loving family. 

Phil was born to Charlie Henry and Marguerite (Turner) Pinkstaff August 22, 1935 in rural Blackburn, Oklahoma. He graduated from Blackburn High School in 1954. Shortly afterwards Phil enlisted in the United States Army and served three years including duty in Japan. Upon completion of his enlistment Phil worked as a barber in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma Missionary Baptist Seminary in Marlow, Oklahoma in 1969 and was ordained in the Missionary Baptist Church. Phil served as pastor of congregations in Anadarko, Ringling, Duncan, Moore, Pryor and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma as well as Benton, Arkansas. He held regional and state denominational leadership roles and started the churches in Pryor and Broken Arrow. Phil later joined his brothers in a family business Pinkstaff Electric based in Tulsa. On retirement Phil returned to Blackburn where he served as Mayor to the town and taught adult Sunday School at Blackburn United Methodist Church. He lived a socially active life at Keystone Village Senior Living Center in Mannford, Oklahoma until health changes required a move for assisted living provided by family in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Phil loved his family and friends – and never met a stranger. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, country dancing and was an avid Cardinals Baseball fan.

He is survived by his two daughters, Debra Meyer of Denver, Colorado and Sandra Pinkstaff of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Other survivors are his grandson Andrew Meyer and wife Jessica Meyer, greatgrandson Benjamin Meyer, and great-grandaughter Molly Meyer of Maitland, Florida; granddaughter Catharine (Meyer) Chaparro and husband Ramon Chaparro, and great-grandaughter Ysabel Chaparro of Northglenn, Colorado; grandson Grant Watkins of Los Angeles, California. Phil is also survived by two siblings, Joy Tinker and husband Robert of Piedmont, Oklahoma and George Pinkstaff and wife Sandy of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; mother of his daughters, Marilyn Sue Martindale of Paris, Arkansas; and several nieces and nephews. His siblings Burt, Corky, Ray, Clayton, and Clayton’s wife Jo preceded him in passing.

A gathering of close friends and family will be held August 14th at 10am graveside at Blackburn Cemetery.  Donations may be made in Phil’s honor to the Community Life Fund at Keystone Village Senior Living Center. Mail checks made payable to Beverly Jones with the memo “Community Life Fund” to Keystone Village Senior Living Center, 173 Greenwood Avenue, Mannford, Oklahoma 74044.