Obituary of Alvin Lee Alsup. Jr.

Alvin Lee “Buddy” Alsup, Jr., age 63, passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Ardmore, Okla. Memorial services under the direction of the family will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at Trinity Baptist Church of Ardmore. Cremation services under the direction of Griffin~Hillcrest of Ardmore.

Alvin was born on September 2, 1954 at Davis, Okla., to Alvin Lee Alsup, Sr., and Irene Mittie (Williams) Alsup. He contracted Scarlet Fever as a toddler. The fever caused permanent damage to his cochlear nerve, leaving him both deaf and mute. Alvin attended Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD). He was enrolled in their pre-school program, which allowed him to adjust to the loss of his hearing and speech. He learned ASL (American Sign Language) which was the primary means of communication for the deaf community. While attending OSD, he participated in various programs that taught him technical skills that allowed him to gain employment after graduation. Alvin also joined the football team and he developed a love of football that lasted a lifetime.

After graduating from OSD in 1974, he moved to Norman and worked a variety of jobs at the OU campus. After his father passed away, he returned to the family home in Ardmore. He was employed by several different businesses in the community. Alvin’s favorite job was his last job working at Lake Murray State Park. He loved the outdoors. When he was younger, he loved to fish and hunt on his grandpa’s land with his cousins: Randy, Lynn, Donnie, Brent, Kent, Leon, and Harold. He was passionate about auto racing. He would often perform engine timing and auto body repairs and paint jobs on his friend’s race cars. At one point, he even held a position as a flag man at the race track south of town. In 1982, Alvin accepted Jesus as his Savior. He didn’t just talk about his faith, he lived his faith by example in his daily actions. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alvin Lee Alsup, Sr., mother, Irene Mittie (Williams) Alsup, grandmothers: Esther Dorrell and Iva Alsup, and grandfathers: Cletus Williams and Lee Alsup.

Alvin is survived by his brother, John Alsup and wife, Nancy, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and sister, Mittie Cruz and husband, Charlie, of Ardmore. Nieces: Maggie, Katie, and Janie Alsup, all of Oklahoma City, Alicia Cobb and husband, Steve, and their children: Jayden and Brooklyn, and Danielle Flores and husband, Jose, all of Sierra Vista, Arizona, one uncle, and two aunts. He is also survived by lifelong friend and “adopted brother”, Kirk Phipps and spouse, Valerie, of Ardmore who encouraged Alvin to be productive and live a positive life. He was stern when needed, but always loving and patient. Alvin loved and respected him. He will be missed by his many friends and those who knew him from both the deaf and hearing communities.

A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday evening, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, June 21, 2018, at Griffin~Hillcrest of Ardmore.

In lieu of flowers, Alvin asked that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to Aspire Hospice.

Condolences may be left at www.griffinhillcrest.com.