Billy Dean Elam, 82, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2017 at his home.

Billy was born April 5, 1935 to Gifford Pearson and Julia R. (Vance) Elam in Gentry County, Missouri. His father, better known as Bill Elam, was a farmer near McFall, Missouri. He passed away in 1938. Three years later, Julia married Charles Arthur Plowman of Daviess County, Missouri. Julia passed away on September 22, 2000 at the age of 82. Charles passed away August 15, 2005 at the age of 90. Both Charles and Julia resided in Oklahoma City for more than twenty years to be near their only child, Billy Dean Elam-Plowman.

Billy graduated from high school in Hickory, North Carolina in 1952 and then went on to the University of Kansas where he graduated with a B.S. in physical therapy in 1955. His first job was at General Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He later moved to Waco, Texas where he worked with disabled children and adults. Billy left Texas after 15 years there and enrolled in graduate school at the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with a master's degree in 1970. Billy eventually joined the physical therapy faculty at Oklahoma University and stayed on until his retirement in 1996. He was vice-chairman of the department for many years as a full professor with tenure. He was named as a Professor Emeritus by the University Regents. In 2011 Billy was honored by the University as a recipient of the Regents Alumni Award. While on the faculty and later, he traveled the world and spent six months in Australia on a sabbatical studying at five different Universities in Australia. At the time of his death he was a member of the Cathedral of Hope in Oklahoma City.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Online condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com