Benjamin Funeral Service ~ Nowata, Oklahoma..............Huston (Bill) Steven Lunsford, 90, of Talala passed away April 26, 2015 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. He was born March 11, 1925 in Claremore, OK to Austin Kilby and Lula Pearl (Jordan) Lunsford. Bill attended Talala Schools and left high school to serve his country in the United States Navy during World War II in which he served two and a half years. He served as a coxswain of a Landing Craft (LCM) which landed marines and tanks on the beach. He landed men during the invasion Peleliu on D-Day, Sept 15, 1944, and many other stops during the South Pacific Campaign. After the war, he finished his education. In 1948 Bill married Billie June Cartwright and had their daughters Conni, Candy, and Cathy. He worked for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville and also farmed. He remarried in 1958 to Irene Emma Timbrook and had sons, Steve and Randy. Having his own business doing footings and also raising horses and cattle, he worked long and hard to get ahead. He passed on the construction business to his sons in 1985 and began his retirement days. Bill was a true horseman. He really enjoyed caring for and training horses. As were many of the old time cowboy's he was a great humanitarian. He never met a stranger and loved visiting and getting to know everyone he met. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing but his biggest love was his family. His grandchildren held a special place in his heart. He loved being the first to teach his grandchildren to drive (at a very young age) and was an awesome "PAPA." He was a mentor to countless young men and women…. But was definitely a "man's man." He touched many lives and will be missed by all. Bill is survived by five children, Conni Lunsford Ostendorf of Morrill, NE, Candy Lunsford Hart of Shadyside, OH, Cathy Lunsford McNeese of Bothell, WA, Steven Lunsford of Claremore, OK, Randy Lunsford of Nowata, OK; a sister, Faye Voris of Ramona, 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Kib and Pearl Lunsford; his wife, Irene, and two siblings, Lee Lunsford and Betty (Lunsford) Blackwell. Funeral services are 2:00 P.M., Friday, May 1, 2015 at Benjamin Funeral Service Chapel. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. Family will be receiving friends Thursday, April 30, 2015 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Memorials in Huston's name may be made to Hannah's Helping Hands at American Bank of Oklahoma c/o Hannah's Helping Hands P.O. Box 66, Collinsville, OK 74021.
Service Details
Friday, May 1st, 2015 2:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home