Obit of Bedingfield Sr., John Wayne - Grady County, Oklahoma Thanks to Bakersfield Californian for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.bakersfield.com/ 28 Dec 2008 Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED On December 13, 2008, God opened his loving arms to welcome John Wayne Bedingfield, Sr. into his eternal kingdom. John was born to Samuel P. and Sophronia Bedingfield on May 14, 1931 in Capital City, Oklahoma. At 15, he met his lifelong love, Shirley Maxine Holcomb, in Chickasha, Oklahoma. They were married on March 7, 1952, and celebrated 56 wonderful years and 3 children together. John was proud to serve as a Boatswain's Mate aboard the naval destroyer, USS Wedderburn, during the Korean War. After his military service, John worked in the oil industry, starting as a rough neck and working his way up to a drilling foreman and consultant for numerous companies, ending with Chevron. His knowledge and no nonsense attitude on the job earned respect in the industry. He especially enjoyed taking part in the pioneering of drilling on the North Slope of Alaska and geothermal drilling in Dixie Valley, Nevada. He made many lifelong friends in the course of his career. John, otherwise known as Big Daddy or Poppy, taught his children by example. He raised us in a Christian home, Southern Baptist to be precise, and always taught us to do the right thing and take responsibility...no matter what. He believed in living his life in a way that allowed him to go to sleep at night with a clear conscience. Poppy always put his family before himself, often making career sacrifices for our benefit. He had wonderful laugh and a soft heart, but also a tough exterior. He was a man's man! He was also proud to be a member of the Choctaw Nation. John was preceded in death by both his mother and father. He leaves behind a loving family who will miss him greatly until we all meet again. For now, he has parted from his wife and soul mate, Shirley, his children and their spouses, Sam and Dell Bedingfield, John and Kay Bedingfield, and Cheryl and Scott Bender. His grandchildren include Joshua and Brock Bedingfield, Aerin and Johnny Bedingfield, Justine and Jadriane Bender, David and wife, Monica and Jenna Watts. He especially enjoyed his great-grandchildren, Colby, Jaylee, Cale, Connor, Brock Jr., Tiffany and Todd, and Casey. He is survived by his brother, Daniel Bedingfield, of Los Angeles, and sister, Mila Bennett, of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and their families. He will also be missed by his many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. We will miss you, Poppy! A celebration of John's life will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hoffmann Hospice or the Alpha Canine Sanctuary. John Wayne Bedingfield, Sr. 1931 - 2008 Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 12/21/2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html