Search Wichita County Obituary Records

Wichita County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Wichita Falls, Texas. Located in North Texas near the Oklahoma border, Wichita County has vital records dating from 1903.

Wichita County Clerk Death Records

The Wichita County Clerk's office in Wichita Falls is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Wichita County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.

Wichita County is anchored by Wichita Falls, the county seat and regional center for North Texas and southern Oklahoma. Sheppard Air Force Base is one of the largest employers in the county and has a long history as a pilot and technical training facility. The county has significant oil and natural gas production. Midwestern State University is also located in Wichita Falls and adds to the city's higher education presence. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Wichita County.

Searching Wichita County Obituaries

Order Wichita County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Wichita County from 1903. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Times Record News and area papers.

Requesting Wichita County Death Certificates

Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Wichita County Clerk, P.O. Box 1679, Wichita Falls, TX 76307. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.

Historical Wichita County Obituary Records

Wichita County death records from the early 1900s document the oil boom population that transformed Wichita Falls from a small railroad town into a regional city. The county was organized in 1882, and early settlers came to ranch and farm on the Rolling Plains. The oil boom of the early 1900s brought workers from across the country and caused rapid growth. Wichita Falls became a substantial city in just a few years. The military presence at Sheppard Field (now Sheppard AFB) added a large transient population during both World Wars. These factors give the county's death records a diverse mix of surnames and origins not typical of rural Texas counties. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Wichita County entries.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Wichita County entries from 1903 to the present.

The Wichita County Clerk in Wichita Falls maintains death certificates and vital records for this North Texas county from 1903 forward.

Texas Law and Wichita County Death Records

Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Wichita County.

Wichita County Obituary Resources

Contact the clerk at (940) 766-8144, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.

Cities in Wichita County

Wichita Falls is the county seat and largest city in Wichita County.

Nearby Counties

Wichita County is located in North Texas on the Oklahoma border.