Roger Hartman

Obituary Roger D. Hartman Tulsa, Oklahoma November 11, 2021

Dr. Roger D. Hartman, age 86, of Tulsa, passed on to his heavenly reward on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at home after a brief battle with COVID-19. On November 4, 1935, Roger was born near and then grew up in Liberty, Missouri, the oldest of three sons of the late Frank and Lucille Hartman. Roger would go on to complete his undergraduate studies at William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri, before moving to Fayetteville, where he would earn his master’s degree in physics from the University of Arkansas. While pursuing his education at William Jewel, Roger would marry the love of his life, Wanda Lee Estes, in 1955. They would move together to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where both Roger and Wanda would receive their doctorates: him in physics, her in special education. The Hartmans would move to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1962, the city Roger would call home until his passing. Roger and Wanda would give birth to their beloved only child in Tulsa, daughter Michelle “Chelli” Renee, in 1971. Roger would begin his professional time in Tulsa as Professor of Physics at The University of Tulsa, where he taught for ten years. He would then go on to become a Professor of Physics at Oral Roberts University in 1972, where he remained until his retirement several years ago. During his lengthy tenure at ORU, Roger held a range of positions, including Professor of Physics and Engineering, Chair of Natural Sciences, Professor of Radiology, Director of Research, and an Associate Dean at the ORU School of Medicine. Most recently, Roger was named Professor Emeritus in 2013. Roger was active in the Rotary Club of Tulsa for many years and was also an active member of Tulsa’s First United Methodist Church. He had the special gift of being able to play the piano entirely by ear, something he started to do as a child, so he would often play at various functions for the Rotary Club and the Builder’s Class at FUMC. Some of Chelli’s most fond memories of her childhood involve her father accompanying her on the piano, while she played tunes from “Fiddler on the Roof” on the violin. Some of Roger’s favorite pasttimes included watching OSU and OU football games and keeping up with the daily shenanigans of his cherished “grand-dogs” in Ohio. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 66 years, Wanda Lee Hartman; their daughter and son-inlaw, Chelli & Jeffrey Ward of Powell, Ohio; brothers Gary (Beverly) Hartman of Sacramento, California and Mark Hartman of Boerne, Texas; sister-in-law Nadine Estes of Roswell, New Mexico; brother-in-law Duane Green of Roswell, New Mexico; brother-in-law James (Terri) Estes of Phoenix, Arizona; as well as numerous nieces and nephews who were dear to him. Due to the continuing pandemic and related precautions, there will be no funeral services at this time. The family hopes to have a “celebration of life” gathering in Tulsa sometime in the spring of 2022. In the meantime, Roger’s daughter and son-in-law sincerely hope everyone who knew and loved Roger will take this opportunity to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roger Hartman, please visit our floral store.