Emma Olive (Ingersol) Price was born in Stillwater, three years after statehood, on Nov. 29, 1910, the daughter of Charles Clinton and Ada Faye (Johnson) Ingersol. She was raised in Stillwater with one sister, Bessie, and six brothers, John, Freeman, Robert, Henry, Carl and Paul. She died in Stillwater on Monday, June 29, 2009. Services will be held in First United Methodist Church, Stillwater on Friday at 10:30 a.m. followed by burial in Fairlawn Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday in Strode Funeral Home.

Emma attended Stillwater Public Schools, graduating in 1928. She was selected as class poet and recited her original poem at graduation exercises. Emma was a charter member of First United Methodist Church and enjoyed recalling the history and construction of the “church with the tower” at Seventh and Duck Streets. In the fall of 1928, Emma enrolled at Oklahoma A&M; College (now Oklahoma State University) in the school of education. Following two years of study, she earned her Elementary Life Teaching Certificate.

Emma fulfilled her desire to teach in rural schools as her Grandmother Johnson had done in Iowa. She taught one year at Lone Star, District 33, a one-room, rural school in far southwest Payne County.

Twenty-seven children in grades first through eighth attended her class. Emma recalled that even though she was barely 20 years old, the children were always cooperative and ready to learn when she rang the school bell. She was proud of the 90 dollars a month she earned.

In the fall of 1931, Emma returned to college and completed her degree in 1933. She was elected to membership in Kappa Delta Pi, an honorary education society and was named to the Dean’s List for academic achievement.

Following graduation, Emma returned to teaching at Union Valley, District 19, a one-room rural school about 15 miles southeast of Stillwater. Fourteen children were enrolled in first through eighth grades. Emma was asked to participate in a model school project in which her classroom excelled. Because of education funding shortfalls during the Depression, Emma felt grateful for a teaching position even though her salary was cut to 40 dollars a month.

On June 3, 1934, Emma was married to Robert Raymond Price, another Oklahoma A&M; graduate. They moved to Westville where Bob was hired to teach vocational agriculture. Over the next 13 and a half years, the couple lived in the Oklahoma communities of Stigler, Paden, Hitchcock and Okeene. They returned to Stillwater in 1948 when Bob joined the Agriculture Education Department faculty at Oklahoma A&M.;

Emma and Bob raised three children, sons, Don and John and daughter, Faye Ann. Their first child, Carol Emma, died shortly following birth.

Emma did not return to classroom teaching but was always involved in school and church activities in every community where she lived. She taught Sunday school, served as a youth sponsor and was a member of United Methodist Women. While living in Hitchcock, she was recruited to write a community column for the newspaper and loved to relate how she used her earnings to buy her first sewing machine. After moving to Stillwater, Emma was employed by the OSU Bursar’s Office as a part-time worker during student enrollment. She also served as advisor to the student Agriculture Education Wives club.

During their retirement years, Bob and Emma traveled extensively doing genealogical research, resulting in wonderful memoirs passed on to family. They were long time members of the Weeping Willow Garden Club and shared an interest in making flower arrangements, winning many ribbons at the Payne County Fair.

Emma was a member of the OSU Alumni Association, the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association, the Payne County Retired Educators Association, and the OSU Emeriti Association.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 71 years; infant daughter; mother; father; sister; and four brothers.

Survivors include son, Don Charles Price and wife, Mary Anna, Denton, Texas; son, John Ray Price and wife, Elizabeth, Park Hill; daughter, Faye Ann Presnal and husband, Glade, Stillwater; brother, Carl Ingersol and wife, Lillian, of Broken Arrow; brother, Paul Ingersol of Ponca City; and sister-in-law, Jacqueline Ingersol Bishop.

Emma will be lovingly remembered by eight grandchildren, Rob and Katie Price, Denton, Texas; Andy and Andrea Price, Coppell, Texas; Jane and David Price-Schwartz, Waban, Mass.; Joye Price, Austin, Texas; Jonathan and Sarah Price, Cedar Park, Texas; Michael and Jaclyn Presnal, Tulsa; Melissa and Octavio Villalobos, Kansas City, Mo.; and Patrick Presnal, Stillwater; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Emma leaves behind special friends from Judith Karman Hospice and Westhaven Nursing Home who provided loving care during her final months.

Memorials may be made in her memory to First United Methodist Church, 400 W. 7th Street, Stillwater, OK 74074; Judith Karman Hospice, 915 S. Main, Stillwater, OK 74074; or Stillwater Children’s Museum, 1601 S. Main, Stillwater, OK 74074.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.