Albert "Buddy" Veltema

Funeral services at First Baptist Church in Walters, Saturday, February 6 at 10:00 a.m., Dr. Tony Nickel officiating under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters. The interment will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the Memory Lane Cemetery, Anadarko, OK. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home. 

Memorial Donations can be made to the First Baptist Church Youth Ministry, P.O. Box 341, Walters, OK 73572.

Albert Lee “Buddy” Veltema was born to Peter and Mildred (Rogers) Veltema on March 15, 1938 at Anadarko, OK and departed this life in Walters, OK on February 3, 2016 at the age of 77 years, 10 months and 19 days.

Buddy grew up at Anadarko where he graduated from high school in 1956. He went on to graduate from Draughon Business College in Oklahoma City. He married Mary Jane White on September 19, 1958 at Anadarko where they made their home while Buddy served as Assistant City Manager for Caddo Electric. They eventually moved to Walters, OK, where Buddy served as City Manager for 27 years.

Buddy was a member and served on the boards of numerous clubs and organizations such as OMPA, SWPA, Walters Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, Rural Electric Co-ops Board, MESO and APPA from which he received the Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award. In 2006 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials and has been recognized as a mentor to many City Managers across the state. He and his wife enjoyed 50 years of camping trips to Colorado. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Walters.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Mildred Veltema; a sister, Betty Veltema Long; a brother, Ralph “Buster” Veltema; and his wife Mary Jane Veltema in 2009.

Survivors include his daughter, Cheryl Veltema Logan of Walters; his son, Chris Veltema of Leesville, LA; 2 grandchildren, Ty Logan of Walters and Jamie Logan of Tulsa; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.