Byron Church Obituary

The memorial service for Byron M. Church, 91, will be held at a later date. His ashes will be scattered in the Pike's Peak region in early spring of 2010. Cremation arrangements are by Anderson Burris Funeral Home and Crematory (Enid, OK). He was born July 8, 1918 in Kansas to Munson M. and Frieda Hein Church, and died Friday, Dec 11, 2009 at his home in Enid, OK. He grew up in Jet, and on Feb 18, 1939 married Geraldine "Gerry" L. Kubik. Byron and Gerry made Colorado Springs their home for 50 years, and engaged in real estate appraising, counseling, and development in central and southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. For a 10-year period in the 60's and 70's Bryon accepted contracts to teach real estate valuation theory and techniques and urban land economics for the University of Colorado, the State Tax Commission, the Appraisal Institute, and the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He also instructed/guest lectured at short courses and seminars sponsored by universities in 15 western states. Byron and Gerry were developers-owners-managers of the 7-building temporary Pikes Peak Community College campuses, and the first Colorado Springs luxury apartments in a gated community featured in the New York Apartment Construction News (April 1968). Their construction and restorations projects included residential condominiums, a historical commercial building and a small industrial park. Bryon served as a member of the City Planning Commission, the Regional Building Code Committee; consultant for County Parks Department, the Chamber of Commerce, City neighborhood and commercial restoration programs. He was a director-member of Good Will Industries, Silver Key Services for Seniors, two local hospitals, and served as an elder-trustee of First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, CO. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Enid Byron is survived by one sister-in-law, Beatrice "Billie" Kubik Huddleston (Ponca City, OK), one brother-in-law and his wife, Jack and Gloria Kubik (Enid, OK), four nieces: Deborah Kubik Mahoney (Lake Charles, LA), Karen Kubik Holmes (Ponca City, OK), Marilyn Jackson (Ponca City, OK) and Sheryl Best (Mustang OK), and two nephews, Max Kubik of Russellville, AR, and Mark Kubik of Baltimore, MD and their families. Byron championed the beauty of life in Colorado, and the warmth of friendly Oklahoma. Memorials may be made to Silver Key Senior Services of Colorado Springs, CO. Condolences may be made at www.andersonburris.com.