Christopher Darby Szlichta met his heavenly father on November 1, 2024. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at First United Methodist Church of Stillwater, 400 W. 7th Ave. Stillwater, Oklahoma. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Christopher was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, just outside of Trenton, New Jersey, on August 27, 1949. He was the only child of Stanley Klemens Szlichta of Plainfield, New Jersey and Florence Dorothy Szlichta of New York, New York. The son of a distinguished military father, Chris grew up on many U.S. Army bases including Fairbanks, Alaska, Tokyo, Japan and finally to Claremore, Oklahoma where his father was the headmaster at the Oklahoma Military Academy, now Rogers State University. Chris graduated from Cascia Hall in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1968. He then earned a degree in political science from Oklahoma State University in 1972. He was active in OSU student government, played a leadership role in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and was the drummer in a regionally famous boyband, The Great Danes. He obtained his law degree from Oklahoma City School of Law in 1976, while interning at the Payne County District Attorney's Office.

Chris had an accomplished 45-year legal career, all in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He served as the Payne County Assistant District Attorney and then as the Stillwater City Attorney. The rest of his career was in private practice with an emphasis on family law. Over the years he served the Stillwater community by sitting on the Stillwater School Board, helping establish the Stillwater Public Education Foundation, was the President of the Payne County Bar Association, and involved in the Oklahoma Bar Association Law Day activities and OBA High School Mock Trial competitions. Over the course of his professional career, Chris authored scholarly articles and lectured numerous times for the benefit and training of attorneys practicing family law.

Chris spent most of his free time enjoying fine arts, playing golf and watching baseball. He was a proud Oklahoma State alum and traveled around the country to witness the Cowboys' highest athletic achievements. Above all else, Chris was a devoted New York Yankee fan.

Chris is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Ramsey of Stillwater, Oklahoma, his daughter Christian Whitney (Barrett Whitney) of Honolulu, Hawaii, his son Jared Szlichta (Lori Kastl) of Stillwater-Perkins, Oklahoma and his stepdaughter, Jennifer Hanson (Jason Hanson) of Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Isla Whitney, Isaac Szlichta, Hailey Kastl, Madison Kastl, Kori Kastl, Kodi Kastl, Jack Hanson, Jett Hanson and Jaylee Hanson.

For those that knew him best, his love for his family, his dedication to public service, his passion for sports and his dry sense of humor will remain with us always.

An online obituary may be viewed and condolences left for the family at www.Strodefh.com