December 15, 1922 - July 18, 2024
George William Krumme, 101, died of natural causes in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 18, 2024. He was born to Roy and Ruth (Bryan) Krumme on Dec. 15, 1922, near Okemah, but spent his early years in the tiny community of Tuskegee before moving to Bristow in 1930, then to Tulsa in 1960.
George attended Oklahoma A&M College for two years before enlisting in the Air Corps in 1942.
After training at Pomona College, Claremont, California, he was transferred to the 70th Infantry Division as a machine gunner. In Alsace, France, he earned a Silver Star and a battlefield commission.
After the war, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Pomona College and later earned an M.S. in engineering and a PhD in geology at the University of Tulsa. His PhD dissertation was published by the Oklahoma Geological Survey. A prolific writer in his later years, George penned an account of his experiences in WWII, wrote several articles for geological publications, and authored a book and many multi-issue stories about the early day history of Bristow for the local newspaper, most of which can be accessed at the Bristow Library.
In 1947, George joined his father and brother, Harlan, as a partner in Krumme Oil Company, specializing in drilling and producing shallow oil properties. His professional activities included the presidency of the Tulsa Geological Society, and the Mid-Continent Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
A former president of All Souls Unitarian Church, he served as Democratic National Committeeman from Oklahoma for twenty years. In 2014, he was elected to the Tulsa Historical Society’s Hall of Fame.
George was preceded in death by his parents, four siblings, son David, and Edwynne (Freeland) Krumme, his wife for more than 60 years, and his second wife Aldean (Thompson) Newcomb, who passed in 2021.
Surviving family members include his son, Robert, of Jenks; his daughter-in-law, Cynthia Krumme, of Estes Park,Colorado; four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at All Souls Unitarian Church at 4 p.mm. on Aug. 14. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to an organization he supported: All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK 74114, Planned Parenthood, or The Parent Child Center of Tulsa.