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This project is for those buried in Resthaven Gardens Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Cleveland County, Oklahoma.
The cemetery is also known as Resthaven Cemetery, Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park and Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Cemetery History from Find a Grave:
Resthaven Memorial Gardens that was established in 1947 by the White family. Mr. White purchased 80 acres of land from the Stephenson family on what is now the southeast corner of 104th and Western Avenue in south part Oklahoma City. Additional acreage was purchased on the south side of Resthaven from the Barton and Henderson families. Today, Resthaven Memorial Gardens has a total of 113 acres, 68 of which are developed. The first burial at Resthaven was an unclaimed baby girl buried November 6, 1947.
When Mr. White opened Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Western Avenue was a dirt road and city water was not available that far south of Oklahoma City. Mr. White had the lake at Resthaven constructed as a way of capturing rainwater for irrigation purposes. Today, the lake serves as a peaceful reservoir for the families to come to and reflect on life's memories.
In the late 1950's, the first family mausoleums and columbaria were built. The Little Chapel of the Roses was constructed in 1960's and the first crematory in the Oklahoma City area was built. In the 1970's the first lawn crypts in south Oklahoma City were built and today there are over 3000 lawn crypts in place. The 1980's brought the new mausoleum buildings, the garden of the Holy Family, the Garden of the Prophets, the Garden of Hope, the Veterans Garden, and the Garden of Valor.
In 1986 the Resthaven Funeral Home was built on the northeast corner of the cemetery. The 20,000 square feet facility is equipped with a modern state-of-the-art audio and video projection system. The cemetery and prearrangement offices as well as the administration and general offices for Resthaven are also conveniently located in this beautiful facility.
In the 1990's the Garden of Serenity was developed and was Resthaven's first garden to be designed with an automatic irrigation system. Beautiful granite constructed niche columbaria were also added in the Garden of Serenity for families that desire to properly and respectfully entomb cremated remains.
Later in 1995, the Garden of Remembrance was developed. This garden was specifically designed to accommodate beautiful upright granite memorials. The University of Oklahoma Health Science Center inters individuals who have donated themselves for medical research at Resthaven. A special bronze tablet is installed over the space where these individuals are interred.
Notable Interments
- John R. Crews (1923-1999) - WW2 Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
- Bob Kalsu (1945-1970) - NFL Player
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