Billie Sue Salge passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2014 after fighting a valiant battle against small cell lung cancer for over a year. She was a compassionate and giving person who spent her life supporting her family and everyone in need she contacted.
Sue was born on January 9, 1948 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. She grew up in Woodward, Oklahoma the daughter of Leo Farris, a cowboy and rancher. Her mother, Dixie Farris, served at Tinker Field during World War II as a civilian war planner and her dad served in the army infantry in France, Belgium and Germany. She was instilled with the service to her country and the goal to help everyone she could.
Sue met the love of her life, Alvin Salge, who was enrolled in USAF Training at Vance AFB near Enid, Oklahoma in 1967. They knew immediately that they were meant for each other. They dated for two weeks before Alvin was reassigned to Mather AFB in Sacramento , CA for navigator training during July and had another few days together when Sue visited her relatives near San Francisco. Alvin flew back to Woodward for their wedding during the 1967 Veterans Day weekend. Sue was then a stalwart supporter of Alvin throughout his USAF 20.5 year career moving 20 times and living in California twice, Arizona, Florida, Germany, Iran, Hawaii, and Washington DC. Later, after Alvin retired from the USAF, they moved to California and lived in San Jose, Redondo Beach, and Santa Ynez during Alvin’s career as a defense contractor. Sue always made a comfortable and secure homes no matter the location or how austere the circumstances. Rex and Lori Camille, their son and daughter, were born in 1968 and 1971.
In addition to raising her children, Sue had business careers as a respiratory therapist, stain glass artist, Airline Reporting Corporation Investigator, and realtor. Her education included Respiratory Therapist College and Episcopal Church Education for Ministry. She always gave 110% in her classes and her jobs. She always found ways to help her co-workers, customers, and friends always keeping their best interests at heart. She was completely dedicated to her family in illness and health. She gave loving care to her daughter and mother for years before they passed away in 2009 and 2012.
Sue is sorely missed by her family who depended on her gracious and wonderful support. She is survived by her husband, Alvin Salge, her son, Rex Salge and his wife, Ashley of New Orleans, LA, her granddaughters, Amanda Merrill, a student at Oklahoma University, Kiley Salge, and Kate Salge. Her daughter, Lori Camille Merrill, passed away in 2009 due to complications from Lyme Disease.
A celebration of Billie Sue Salge’s life will be held Saturday, January 18, at 11:00 AM at Saint Marks In-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos, CA.
Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors.
