Vernor Earl Bockelman

As put by one of Grandpa’s grands, 11 days being apart was way too long for these two after being married 73 years. Grandpa joined Grandma Bockelman today in heaven. They were an amazing example of true love for all of us. My cousin Lindsay said it best at Grandma’s Memorial last week… We have never seen someone hold hands as much as these two did. We rejoice knowing they are holding hands in heaven again.

Vernor Bockelman, whose long life as son, husband, father, grandpa, soldier, and most of all servant of GOD, was defined by a life lived fully serving others in the role GOD gave him, has died at 94 years young.

His wife of 73 years, Barbara Bockelman, passed away 11 days prior to Vernor.  His last address was Beaver Nursing Home, Beaver, Oklahoma, where he and Barbara were loved and tenderly cared for by the staff.

Vernor was born in Beaver County on May 14, 1924 to Adolph and Idress Bockelman.  He attended North Ivanhoe, Glendale and Overtstreet before attending Laverne High School.  He went to Oklahoma A&M for three years before he enlisted to become a soldier during WWII.  Through ROTC he was accepted into Officer Candidate School.  While waiting to find out where they would be sent, service men filled the dorms so the officer candidates had no place to stay and ended up in Fire Station #2 until they were sent to training.  After staying there, the 70 candidates became known as the Fire House Gang.  Vernor was then sent to Paris, Texas.

In April 1945, he married Barbara Jean Hinkle in Ozark, Alabama.  Being stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was soon sent to occupied Japan.  To this marriage, four children were born: Pamela Sherrer, Carol Bockelman, Kathy Diacon and Chris Boeckelman.  While in occupied Japan, Pam was born.  Vernor missed the first 6 months of Pam’s life.  He came back to live and work on the Y-Bar Ranch.

Vernor’s faith based life was filled with many blessings.  He was a man with such a servant heart.  He always saw things to do for others thus he taught that same concept to his children, grands and greats.  Those children never went to college without their books paid for and he and Barbara were donors for every 4-H project they did.

Work ethic!  Actions speak louder than words.  He kept all of us, including his grandkids, doing jobs.  What he was teaching us was how to persist at anything we did.  Some of it wasn’t fun but now he has helped to produce productive people. Cleaning septic tanks was not a joy, bucking bales, picking 60’ rows of garden beans  ---   all for the sake of a work ethic.

One of Vernor’s favorite things to do was public speaking.  He taught his children the same skills.  In turn, the children taught their children.  Vernor started the ripple effect where a stone is tossed into the water and you see one ripple after another.  There are many public speakers in our family.  You always saw Vernor helping friends and his friends helping him.  Living in Slapout and Laverne communities, that was and is a way of life that Vernor loved.

Vernor and Barbara were filled with love for their family.  Their home was such a fun place to be, a place where fellowship, support and love grew.

Vernor loved serving GOD by doing lay speaking at various churches.

In 1^st Corinthians it says “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  Vernor loved his GOD more than anything.  We feel that GOD has just said to Vernor, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”