William Don Putnam, also known to many as Dr. Put, died Tuesday morning January 12, 2021, due to complications from Covid-19 with family at his bedside. He was 93 years old. He was a prominent family practice physician in Tulsa for over 20 years. In his early years, he specialized in delivering babies and loved, in his later life, to be approached by what seemed to be strangers only to learn he had been the one to deliver them. His office was at the Sheridan Village Shopping Center until 1978. He then moved to Glendale, CA to become director of the Family Practice Residency Program at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. He continued practicing medicine in various group practices or as a locum tenens until the ripe young age of 85. As you can imagine, he had numerous friends and colleagues from all over the world whom he loved talking with or following on Facebook. In the summer of 2012, he moved back to Tulsa, OK to spend his retirement with old friends and familiar places. Bill was preceded in death by Doris, his loving wife and best friend of 35 years. His children John Putnam, Cathey (Putnam) Yamashiro and Vernon, Vicki (Putnam) Hilvitz and Todd, and stepdaughter Ann Cassell and Jack are all left with the best of memories, traveling every summer, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and lazing by the pool or in the ocean. We will never forget his matching velour pantsuits, one-piece jumpsuits or the endless cans of hair spray used to perfect his 'expertly' coiffed hair. He loved chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, A&W root beer floats, cream and sugar with a little coffee, movies with buttered popcorn, Sanibel Island, and sending 4-5 emails per day to children and grandchildren. His grandchildren Kari Bahl, Chris Bahl and Krista, Jason Putnam, Ashley Putnam, Chelsea Lang, and Isaac, Erik Yamashiro, Spencer Hilvitz, Jacob Hilvitz, Calli Hilvitz, and Wyatt Hilvitz will all miss his infectious laugh, endless repertoire of jokes, and what was truly the best life advice. Oh, and those emails!! And last but not least his greatest joy of late was his great-grandchild Weston Lang. He loved being able to watch him grow and change even though he was far away. His love of all things new and different has fueled us all to become world travelers and experts at power reading emails. Enjoy exploring Dad! If you would like to donate in lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to Doctors Without Borders in Memory of William D. Putnam. Donate here: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm?type=tribute