Tobe H. Oliphant

On Friday, February 11, 1944, God sent a gift to Charlie and Norvella Richardson-Oliphant named Tobe Henry Oliphant.

Tobe was an energetic, fun loving young man that loved his mother, father sisters, brother and cousins with all of his heart. He loved playing with Lou, Robert and Booker T. As soon as he thought no one was watching, he was headed next door to his beloved aunt Mattie Mae and uncle Eddie. His mother, Norvella never missed anything and just when he was halfway there he would hear a stern, “Tobe Henry Oliphant get back to this house!” Tobe grew up surrounded by strong, hard working Christian parents who taught him right from wrong and instilled in him values that would make him a success in his every endeavor. He was taught the Oliphant way of honesty and hard work by his father, Charlie and his uncle Eddie.

Tobe attended Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in the Phelps community and was baptized at an early age under the leadership of Pastor L.W. Phiefer. He was educated in the Phelps community by the best educator in Walker county, Mrs. Sylvia B. McGowan, who demanded excellence and discipline from her students. When he reached high school he went to Sam Houston High School in Huntsville, where he excelled in sports and academics and graduated top of his class in 1962. Following graduation, he headed to Prairie View A&M University, but had to return home when his father; Charlie became ill with a rare disease that we now know as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Tobe and his siblings were tragically left without a father at an early age. However, that didn’t stop him because he had been taught the Oliphant way by his father and he eagerly supported his mother and siblings as the man of the house. His uncle Eddie was there guiding him and helping to care for his brother Charlie’s family until he passed away 4 years after his brother.

Tobe was drafted into the Vietnam War a few years after his father’s passing. He served honorably until tragedy struck again. He and his fellow soldiers were on the front lines in the jungles of Vietnam when they were fired upon and hit by an RPG. As a result of explosive ordinance. Tobe would suffer a shattered back, severe burns, a busted eardrum, an amputated leg, and visions of his fellow soldiers laying dead next to him. He would spend the next year undergoing surgery, skin graphs, and learning how to walk again, but he never let go of God’s unchanging had. He returned home and continued support his family and rebuild his life. He would eventually meet the love of his life; the beautiful Onita Jane Reece. Tobe and Jane were married on December 29, 1969 and have been together for over 52 blessed  years.

Tobe leaves to mourn, his wife: Onita Jane Oliphant; daughter: Delisa Hibler (Will); sons: Dwelvin Oliphant (Sheronda) and Tobe Oliphant II (Shejuan); grandchildren: Alexis Finley, Nehla Oliphant, Alyssa Oliphant, Emery Oliphant, and Kase Oliphant; sisters: Suedean Pinkard, Naomi Washington, JoNell Ross (Curtis); brother: Jerry Oliphant; special cousins: Lou Oliphant, Booker T. Oliphant, Ella Mosely, Elma Sewell; goddaughters: Selma Dupree (Cornelius), Laquita Worthing (Darrell), Mashayla Williams and a host of nieces, nephews, nephews, relatives and friends.