Carl Bartholomew
Obituary
"Howdy!" After a long and valiant fight with cancer, there is a new angel in heaven as Carl Bartholomew passed away August 18, 2009. Born May 27, 1932.
Carl was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a Navy veteran. His professional career took off when he began work at KTUL in 1967 as a studio cameraman. He soon got the chance to substitute for the legendary John Chick on Mr. Zing and Tuffy as his Uncle Zeb. Every day from 1969 to 1979 kids would get home from school just in time to check out "Uncle Zeb's Cartoon Camp." That spawned a character he would play for the rest of his life. During his time at KTUL he became promotions director and created the "8's the Place" campaign, seeing that the slogan was branded on everything from a cow to a 727 airliner. He also wrote, produced, directed and starred in a feature length movie entitled "Cole Justice." He resurrected his Uncle Zeb persona in the '90s on cable TV where he entertained a new generation of children. He wrote and published two books, "Grand Max: The Saving of a Steam Train" and "The Plane Phenomenon: Pawnshop Mysteries." He also produced a children's video, "Uncle Zeb's Imagination Games."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Sr. and Lillian Kathleen and his sister Carol. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, son Blake, daughter-in-law Stefani, grandson, Henry Blake, niece, Carla and Godchildren Darcy and Jake Sheppard along with many other family members and friends. The family would like to thank the fine nurses and doctors at the St. John Adult Intensive Care Unit and a special thanks to Dr. Alan Langerak and the staff at Cancer Care. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Uncle Zeb Foundation c/o Bank of Oklahoma. Services 1:00 p.m. Saturday, First Presbyterian Church, Tulsa. And in the immortal words of Uncle Zeb, "I'll be lookin' for ya!"
To make a donation online please click below:
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Events
Tributes & Memories
It's been almost 7 years, and Tulsa Kids of the 1970's still miss you very much. So pleased to see your foundation is still helping children with cancer. Thank for all you did, and all that is done in your good name. I had the pleasure of emailing with you about Grand Max in 2000. Although it was only a handful of messages back and forth, it was a very big deal to this little girl...who felt 6 years old again.
Laura Finley
Uncle Zeb was the BEST All my kids loved him. One even went on his show and was a brat but Uncle Zeb knew how to handled him, at the start of the show he was on the front row to get up and down but after a comercial he could be seen on the top row. That fixed the problem! We still watch the video of that show and laugh. We loved Uncle Zeb! He will always be missed...Betty Woodward
Betty Woodward
Marilyn you were both the greatest of friends to my sister Jill and brother-in-law Shep and the greatest god-parents to their children Darcy and Jake. We love you both and your in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Joy and Paul Maher
Joy Maher
To Carl's family, I wanted to send my condolences to you after hearing of Carl's passing. I was one of the many fortunate people that worked with Carl over the years, some doing freelance projects with him while he was at Tulsa Cable. I'll never forget how my friends and even TV colleages were impressed when I told them was working with "Uncle Zeb." I remember stopping by Carl's office occasionally just to chat. And he always took the time to visit with me. I lost touch with Carl after moving out of Oklahoma, but occasionally would hear from some friends that Carl said to say "Howdy." That always had a heart-warming effect on me...for you see I was and always will be one of Uncle Zeb's kids, too.
Steve Warren
Dear Mrs Bartholomew and family, I feel very fortunate to not only have known Mr Bartholomew as Uncle Zeb when I was a kid and my kids being on his show, but more personally through my profession. It was a pleasure to have taken care of him. He was always pleasant and had such a great sense of humor. He will be missed. I will be praying for all of you.
Rebecca Metcalfe
I wish to express my condolences to the entire Bartholomew family. My brother and I would would race to the television as 3:00 pm would slowly approach and whine that "Edge of Night" was still on until 3:00p would eventually get there and we could watch our favorite show "Uncle Zeb's Cartoon Camp". My brother had his birthday party there with all his little friends and I remember being glued to the t.v. so we could see what neat games would be played, who would say "hi" to who at the end and get to hear our enduring Uncle Zeb say his famous token line To this VERY DAY there is not a conversation that I have whenever I am fortunate enough to speak to my brother or mother on the phone (since we all do live some distance away) that we do not say to each other Uncle Zeb's wonderful catchphrase instead of the standard "goodbye" . Forever and always, "I'll be a look'in for 'ya!" With deepest sympathy, The R.E. Hurd Family
Kevin Hurd
Many times I have shared stories about growing up in Jenks with my friends in this part of the country. Most of them have heard me tell with wide eyed enthusiasm about racing home from school every day to watch Uncle Zeb's Cartoon Camp and, more importantly the time I was on the show (my television debut) Sharing the story with my own son was a great joy. All who read this, please know that he will live on in the stories of my youth for many years to come. Thanks Uncle Zeb.
Mark Lynn
Thanks Carl....for being there for all of us.
Elizabeth Chick
Carl was truly a giant in the industry. Tom Goodgame's remarks at the Press Club several months ago crediting Carl's tremendous talent with contributing to the remarkable success of KTUL's dominance in the market are a tribute to that. It was a pleasure to work with him--always positive, always up. And a master at creative promotions of KTUL.
John Hamill
Thank you so much for sharing him with all of us. Uncle Zeb is one of my best childhood memories. He was always there when I came home from school and I was lucky enough to have had two birthday parties on his show. On my second time on the show, he accidently forgot to mention my birthday and gave me a Connect Four game that was in my family for many years. Rest in peace, Uncle Zeb and know that you influenced a whole generation of kids.
Dawn Ditty
Marilyn I am so sorry for your loss. You don't know me but I'm one of the thousands of Uncle Zeb fans who grew up watching the Cartoon Camp after school in the 1970s (I also remember him subbing for Mr. Zing before that). I can so clearly remember his nice harmonica theme song and can virtually hear his voice say once more, "I'll be lookin' for ye!" Carl was simply great.
Bill Barbre