Published: April 20, 2008 12:51 am            

John L. Caldwell, Sr.

John Caldwell, Sr., Ponca City, died Friday, April 18, 2008 at Ponca City Medical Center. He was 84.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday in the chapel of the Trout Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Sweetman, chaplain, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, officiating. Burial will follow in Stillwater at Sunset Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Trout.

John LeRoy Caldwell, Sr. was born Nov. 30, 1923 in Stillwater to John Gabriel and Pauline (Ahner) Caldwell. He attended school in Stillwater. Following high school, John joined the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II and the Korean War. He was also in the National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1951. He was a member of The American Legion and the VFW.

On Jan. 29, 1940, John married Arelena Corrine Cooke in Guthrie. Of this union, five children were born. They made their home in Stillwater. Later, John moved his family to Ponca City where he joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 444. Following work throughout the United States, they made their home in Irwin, Pa., where they resided for 18 years. After leaving Pennsylvania, he returned to Stillwater, becoming the city electrical inspector for a number of years. In 1980, he returned to Ponca City and later retired from the electrical trade in 1985. He was a member of the IBEW Local 444 for more than 50 years.

His hobbies included gardening, horses, raising rabbits, fishing and playing family games.

Survivors include two sons, Johnny Caldwell, Jr. and wife Barbara, Rocky Caldwell and wife Lynn all of Ponca City, two daughters Linda Stokes and husband Bill of Treasure Lake, Pa., and Lodene Yaney of Ft. Wayne, Ind., 17 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, Grace Smith and Pat Demaree both of Stillwater; two brothers, Glen Caldwell of Pauls Valley and James Caldwell of Blaine, Tenn., and numerous other family members.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arelena in 1998, one daughter Lois Obusek, son-in-law Ernie Obusek, two grandsons John Caldwell III and Jesse Curry, brother Floyd Caldwell, sisters, Edna Eyler and Mildred Temple.

Casket bearers will be Robert Shelton, Charles Kirk, Bob Goulden, Bill McDonald, Mark Nichols and Chuck Cox. Honorary casket bearers will be members of the IBEW Local 444.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103 Ponca City, 74601.

The family will be at 2135 Garden St.

        

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