Obit for Walter Raymond "Dub" Metcalf (m324) - Payne County OK Transcribed 2/15/2002 by Bill Cook, for the Payne Co. Okla. Archives. Return to Payne County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/payne/payne.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Walter Raymond "Dub" Metcalf passed away Monday at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kincannon Funeral Home Chapel in Altus with Harold Metcalf officiating. Burial will be at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home. He was born July 27, 1917 to Walter Raymond Metcalf, Sr. and Emma Geneva Curb Metcalf in the Metcalf Community eight miles north of Gould. He attended the Hollis public schools from the first grade until his graduation from high school in 1937. He had a love for all sports and played on teams throughout his grade school, junior high and high school years. In high school he played quarterback on the 1935 and 1936 football teams and was the state champion half-miler on the track teams both years. He married Geraldine Spradling in January, 1937 in Altus and at the time of her death they had been married for 63 years. For 38 years he served as a deacon in the Thomas Street Church of Christ in Altus and devoted many years to benevolence ministries in his community. By the time he was 13, he was working in the grocery store, after school and on Saturday, with his Dad and older brother. He finished his "apprenticeship" as a butcher in Hollis at Kirby Corner and in "Doc" Charlton's grocery store during 1938 and from then until 1944 plied his trade in Paul Metcalf's grocery. He served in the United States Navy in from May 1943 until October 1944 in San Diego as a Petty Officer. He was assigned to the Boot Camp Ship's Company to train other recruits in the fine art of butchering. With his induction, all five Metcalf brothers were in the military service. After World War II, he opened his own grocery store in downtown Hollis, and operated his business until 1954. He moved his family to Altus and ran a neighborhood store on East Pecan Street near Eugene Field School. He once said, "I didn't know it then, but I had invented the 7-11 type convenience store." After 20 years as a grocer, he continued to work as a semi-retiree, for Moore Wholesale Grocery in Altus and owned and managed a number of affordable housing units. He retired in 1983 and devoted more time to his avocations, golfing, fishing, gardening and spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In a letter to his 1937 high school class at their 50th alumni celebration he wrote: "Our four children have made our life complete." He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Geraldine; a sister, Hazel Dickerson and two brothers, Paul and james Metcalf. Survivors by four children, Wayne Kent Metcalf and wife, Donna, Stillwater, Joe Dan Metcalf and wife, Linda, Oklahoma City Marilyn Jane Woolly and husband Jimmy, Weatherford, Texas, and James Preston Metcalf, Edmond two brothers, Harold Metcalf and wife, Wanda, Elk City and Bill Metcalf and wife, Sue of Alabama two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Paul Metcalf (Lorene), Oklahoma City and Mrs. James Metcalf (Bonnie), Colton, Calif. 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Family visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. today at the Kincannon Funeral Home. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Payne County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/payne/payne.html