Edwin J. Willingham, 97, of Ardmore passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2016. He was born February 12, 1919, to William Edwin and Mamie Bell (Chapman) Willingham in Denison, Texas.
Edwin had a strong love of God, country, and family. He attended Ardmore High School from 1937 to 1940, when he heard his country's call during his senior year and joined the United States Army. Edwin proudly served his country from 1940 to 1945, much of it as a radar mechanic in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II stationed at Guam, Oahu, Saipan and Okinawa. Edwin was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and an American Defensive Service Ribbon during his tour of duty. A witness to a milestone of military history and the Atomic Age, he was manning the radar station at Okinawa in 1945 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and later on Nagasaki. After he was honorably discharged for services rendered to his country when called upon to do so, Edwin returned to school and graduated with the class of 1946. He was very proud of finishing school as education was very important to him. Recently, Edwin was awarded a Citation of Appreciation signed by Mary Fallin and presented by state Senator Frank Simpson in recognition of his wartime service.
After the war, he worked many years as an auto parts salesman for Auto Electric. Edwin enjoyed vegetable gardening and golf and was an avid baseball player.
He is survived by his three daughters, Jim and Pat Cox, Ronny and Linda Vance and Ed and Judy Cavnar, all of Ardmore; grandchildren, Mark Vance and wife, Renee, Jimmy Don Cox and wife, Holly and Cody Cavnar; great-grandchildren, Piper Cox, Perry Cox, Emry Raney Cavnar, Chelsea Connel, Courtney Connel and Cassidy Hall; step-granddaughter, Cheryl Deisher and husband, Dan; step-great-grandchildren, Sallena Deisher, Kayla Deisher and Ryan Deisher; special friend and companion, Dorothy Ford; and special neighbor and friend,Theresa Kirkpatrick.
Edwin is preceded in death by his first wife, Ozell Donaldson and second wife, Betty Willingham
Edwin had a strong love of God, country, and family. He attended Ardmore High School from 1937 to 1940, when he heard his country's call during his senior year and joined the United States Army. Edwin proudly served his country from 1940 to 1945, much of it as a radar mechanic in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II stationed at Guam, Oahu, Saipan and Okinawa. Edwin was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and an American Defensive Service Ribbon during his tour of duty. A witness to a milestone of military history and the Atomic Age, he was manning the radar station at Okinawa in 1945 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and later on Nagasaki. After he was honorably discharged for services rendered to his country when called upon to do so, Edwin returned to school and graduated with the class of 1946. He was very proud of finishing school as education was very important to him. Recently, Edwin was awarded a Citation of Appreciation signed by Mary Fallin and presented by state Senator Frank Simpson in recognition of his wartime service.
After the war, he worked many years as an auto parts salesman for Auto Electric. Edwin enjoyed vegetable gardening and golf and was an avid baseball player.
He is survived by his three daughters, Jim and Pat Cox, Ronny and Linda Vance and Ed and Judy Cavnar, all of Ardmore; grandchildren, Mark Vance and wife, Renee, Jimmy Don Cox and wife, Holly and Cody Cavnar; great-grandchildren, Piper Cox, Perry Cox, Emry Raney Cavnar, Chelsea Connel, Courtney Connel and Cassidy Hall; step-granddaughter, Cheryl Deisher and husband, Dan; step-great-grandchildren, Sallena Deisher, Kayla Deisher and Ryan Deisher; special friend and companion, Dorothy Ford; and special neighbor and friend,Theresa Kirkpatrick.
Edwin is preceded in death by his first wife, Ozell Donaldson and second wife, Betty Willingham
Edwin J. Willingham, 97, of Ardmore passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2016. He was born February 12, 1919, to William Edwin and Mamie Bell (Chapman) Willingham in Denison, Texas.
Edwin had a strong love of God, country, and family. He attended Ardmore High School from 1937 to 1940, when he heard his country's call during his senior year and joined the United States Army. Edwin proudly served his country from 1940 to 1945, much of it as a radar mechanic in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II stationed at Guam, Oahu, Saipan and Okinawa. Edwin was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and an American Defensive Service Ribbon during his tour of duty. A witness to a milestone of military history and the Atomic Age, he was manning the radar station at Okinawa in 1945 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and later on Nagasaki. After he was honorably discharged for services rendered to his country when called upon to do so, Edwin returned to school and graduated with the class of 1946. He was very proud of finishing school as education was very important to him. Recently, Edwin was awarded a Citation of Appreciation signed by Mary Fallin and presented by state Senator Frank Simpson in recognition of his wartime service.
After the war, he worked many years as an auto parts salesman for Auto Electric. Edwin enjoyed vegetable gardening and golf and was an avid baseball player.
He is survived by his three daughters, Jim and Pat Cox, Ronny and Linda Vance and Ed and Judy Cavnar, all of Ardmore; grandchildren, Mark Vance and wife, Renee, Jimmy Don Cox and wife, Holly and Cody Cavnar; great-grandchildren, Piper Cox, Perry Cox, Emry Raney Cavnar, Chelsea Connel, Courtney Connel and Cassidy Hall; step-granddaughter, Cheryl Deisher and husband, Dan; step-great-grandchildren, Sallena Deisher, Kayla Deisher and Ryan Deisher; special friend and companion, Dorothy Ford; and special neighbor and friend,Theresa Kirkpatrick.
Edwin is preceded in death by his first wife, Ozell Donaldson and second wife, Betty Willingham
Edwin had a strong love of God, country, and family. He attended Ardmore High School from 1937 to 1940, when he heard his country's call during his senior year and joined the United States Army. Edwin proudly served his country from 1940 to 1945, much of it as a radar mechanic in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II stationed at Guam, Oahu, Saipan and Okinawa. Edwin was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and an American Defensive Service Ribbon during his tour of duty. A witness to a milestone of military history and the Atomic Age, he was manning the radar station at Okinawa in 1945 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and later on Nagasaki. After he was honorably discharged for services rendered to his country when called upon to do so, Edwin returned to school and graduated with the class of 1946. He was very proud of finishing school as education was very important to him. Recently, Edwin was awarded a Citation of Appreciation signed by Mary Fallin and presented by state Senator Frank Simpson in recognition of his wartime service.
After the war, he worked many years as an auto parts salesman for Auto Electric. Edwin enjoyed vegetable gardening and golf and was an avid baseball player.
He is survived by his three daughters, Jim and Pat Cox, Ronny and Linda Vance and Ed and Judy Cavnar, all of Ardmore; grandchildren, Mark Vance and wife, Renee, Jimmy Don Cox and wife, Holly and Cody Cavnar; great-grandchildren, Piper Cox, Perry Cox, Emry Raney Cavnar, Chelsea Connel, Courtney Connel and Cassidy Hall; step-granddaughter, Cheryl Deisher and husband, Dan; step-great-grandchildren, Sallena Deisher, Kayla Deisher and Ryan Deisher; special friend and companion, Dorothy Ford; and special neighbor and friend,Theresa Kirkpatrick.
Edwin is preceded in death by his first wife, Ozell Donaldson and second wife, Betty Willingham
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