Published: March 14, 2007 10:07 am            

Obituaries, March 14

Dora Graciela de Marchena Wood

Dora Graciela de Marchena Wood passed away March 4, 2007. Memorial services were 2 p.m. March 8 at Ridgecrest Church of Christ in Midwest City. Burial was at Union City Cemetery. She was born in San Salvador in Central America Dec. 27, 1918, to Aristedes and Amparo de Marchena. She came to the U.S. in July 1946 with her music teacher and three close friends to study voice and attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha. In college, she was nicknamed “the Spanish Nightingale” and sang at various events. In 1946, she met the love of her life, “Lawrencito,” on a blind date set up by his nieces, Hope and Bernice. They were married June 15, 1947, moved to Midwest City and had two children, Jimmy and Doris. She chose to stay home and babysit. She later worked at Street’s and Dillard’s where she was a dedicated and respected employee for 14 years. She was an active member of the Ridgecrest Church of Christ, Stepping Stones and a precinct chairman for the GOP. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lawrence Wood Sr.; a son, James Lawrence Wood Jr.; her parents; a sister Elba; and two brothers Rene and Horacio. She is survived and by her daughter, Doris Schaefer and husband Mel of Yukon; three grandchildren and their spouses; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Yolanda Vettorazzi; sisters-in-law Lula Wood of Chickasha and Natalie Wood of Richardson, Texas; and a host of others. Her family sincerely wishes to thank all the staff at Victorian Estates in Yukon, Choice Hospice, her caregivers and her two supportive church families.



Joan H. Barton

Joan H. Barton, 73, of Del City, died March 8, 2007. Services were 10 a.m. Monday at Candlewood Chapel and were under the direction of Ford Funeral Service. Burial followed at Sunny Lane Cemetery. The family received friends at Candlewood Chapel Sunday. She was born Dec. 5, 1933, in Oklahoma City, to George and Clara Hicks. She dropped out of school in 1947 in order to assist her mother in supporting her siblings. In June 1968, she was awarded a certificate of high school equivalency. She worked as a payroll clerk at Tinker Air Force Base from 1964 until 1979. In 1981, she went to work as a payroll clerk at the FAA, from which she retired in 1994. She married Billy C. Barton Jan. 26, 1952. She was preceded in death by a son, Terry Barton. She is survived by her husband, Billy C. Barton Sr.; children, Sharon Fisher and husband Tom of Oklahoma City, Billy Barton Jr. and wife Gayla of Wayne and Keith Barton of Stillwater; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.



Willard L. ‘Bill’ Browning

Willard L. “Bill” Browning, 95, of Midwest City, died March 8, 2007, in Norman. Funeral services were 2 p.m. Friday at Barnes and Johnson Funeral Home. Internment took place at Sunnylane Cemetery. He was born Aug. 3, 1911, in McCurtain, to Everett A. and Edna Mae Browning. He was married to Gertrude Rooker Browning Oct. 31, 1935, in McAlester. He was employed at Wonder Bread Bakery. He retired in 1977. Browning was a member of CrossRoads Cathedral. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude; a daughter, Shirley L. Danner; three sisters, Mildred Browning, Neaoma Wingo and Ineta Riley; and a brother, Eugene Browning. He is survived by his brother, Napoleon Browning and his children; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.



Hubert ‘Hugh’ Pitzer

Hubert “Hugh” Pitzer, a proud World War II veteran, was born June 7, 1921, in Weatherford, the son of Charles and Maggie Pitzer. He passed away March 8. A celebration of his life was 2 p.m. Monday at Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home in Midwest City. He was buried at Arlington Memorial Gardens. Services were under the direction of Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Pitzer; a son, Mark Pitzer; a daughter, Melissa and husband Dave Copenhaver; a granddaughter, Amy and husband Troy Chavez; and a great-grandson, Ian Philip Chavez, all of Midwest City; a brother Dale Pitzer of Spencer; two sisters, Marjorie Ramey and Melva Dickey, both of Weatherford; and numerous nieces and nephews.



Rose A. Rice

Rose A. Rice, 86, of Del City, died March 8, 2007. Her Rosary was 7 p.m. Friday in the Candlewood Chapel at Ford Funeral Service with a reception after. Mass was 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church. Memorial donations should be made to a charity of your choice. She was born Feb. 4, 1921 in Edmond, the daughter of Frank and Frances Von Elm. She graduated from the St. Anthony’s School of Nursing as an registered nurse in 1944. She was a volunteer at St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church and the Infant Crisis Center. She is survived by her husband, George, whom she met during World War II; a daughter, Rosemary and her husband Charles Sheffield; two grandchildren, Monica and Grant; two great-grandchildren, Rachel and Carrie; and many other relatives and friends.



Waneta Mae Willis

Waneta Mae Willis, daughter of Bessie Belle and Benny H. Penn, was born April 19, 1927, in Tuskegee and passed away March 8, 2007, in Midwest City. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Monday at Fort Gibson National Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home. She is survived by her four children, Connie Hoss, Bill Willis, Michael Willis and Richard Willis; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, William J. Willis; a daughter, Patricia Willis; three brothers; and a sister.



Carolyn D. Witherspoon

Carolyn D. Witherspoon, 62, of Midwest City, passed away March 8, 2007. She was born May 15, 1944, in Oklahoma City, to Ernest Davis and Shirley Rhodes. She was a member of Living Waters Lighthouse Church. Her parents preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Danny; a son, Steve Witherspoon and wife; a daughter, Julie Cage and husband; two brothers, Stanley Davis and wife and Peter Rhodes and wife; and five grandchildren. Funeral services were 10 a.m. Monday at Living Waters Lighthouse. Burial followed at Arlington Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home.



Leota M. (Parker) Belcher

Leota M. (Parker) Belcher, was born July 26, 1927, in rural McLoud and passed away March 9, 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emily Jane and Clarence James Parker; and brothers, Melvin and Curtis. She is survived by her son, Terry Belcher of Oklahoma City; daughters, Linda Pinson of Harrah and Connie Blanchard of Choctaw; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She retired from Tinker Air Force Base and resided in Harrah for the past 25 years. Funeral services were 2 p.m. Monday at Bill Eisenhour Northeast Chapel. Burial was at Rossville Cemetery. A formal visitation with family members was from 3–5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour N.E.



Patricia Anne Faris

Patricia Anne Faris, 62, of Del City, passed away March 9, 2007, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, 5005 S.E. 29th St., in Del City. Graveside services will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 2301 E. Indian Hills Road, in Norman. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour S.E. She was born July 31, 1944, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Lester and Frances Welch Denny. She lived in the Oklahoma City area all her adult life. She was an administrator of several nursing homes in Oklahoma City during her career. She is survived by her husband, Tom Faris; four children, Eva Sexton, Donald Wayne Hurt Jr., Angela Mazza and Keith Faris; eight grandchildren; a stepmother, Betty Denny; a brother, Lester Denny; her two poodles, Pepe and Sissy; and a host of many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; and a grandchild, Michael C. Stewart.



Ginger Ann Patterson

Ginger Ann Patterson, 33, passed away March 9, 2007. She was born Aug. 21, 1973, to Richard and Donnell Cohee in Oklahoma City. A memorial service was 10 a.m. Tuesday at Meadowood Baptist Church, conducted by Ford Funeral Service. She attended and graduated from Capital Hill High School and was a member on the cheerleading squad and attended many competitions. At the age of 17, she met her future husband, Jeremy, while working at Target. They worked at Target for 11 years. In 1997, they were married in the backyard of her parents’ home in Newalla. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1999 with a bachelor’s of science degree in community health. In 2002, she began working for Tinker Air Force Base as a supply technician. They have two children, Zoey in December 2000, and Maggie Lynn in March 2005. She became the epitome of bravery during the last four months of her life as she battled gastric cancer. The family wishes to thank the staff at Midwest City Regional Hospital Oncology Unit for the kind and loving way they cared for her.



Gertrude Kantner

Gertrude Kantner, 93, died March 10, 2007, in Oklahoma City. Services were conducted by Ford Funeral Service 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Midwest City. She was born Sept. 10, 1913, in Philadelphia, Pa., the daughter of George and Gertrude Reising. She was active in Eastern Stars for 35 years and a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Midwest City. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; a son, Lee; a brother; a sister; and a grandchild. She is survived by two sons, John and wife Betty Kantner and Bruce; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and a niece; Nancy Rue.



Stacy Leigh (Brooks) Vigil

Stacy Leigh (Brooks) Vigil, 47, was born Jan. 2, 1960, in Ft. Smith, Ark. She passed away March 11, 2007, in Harrah. Graveside services were 10 a.m. Tuesday at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah. Pastor Tom Jones officiated. Services were under the direction of Smith-Parks Funeral Service in Harrah. A guest book is available at www.smithparks.com. She was the daughter of Earl Dean Brooks and Rosemary (Hodgens) Maurer. She was a beautician. She was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her two daughters, Brooke Callander of Maryland and Leighan Vigil of Harrah; her mother and stepfather, Rosemary and Jacob P. Maurer of Harrah; two brothers, Jeff Whipple of Charlotte, N.C. and Jake Maurer of Phoenix; and many other relatives and friends.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.