Obit of Ringwald, Archie Wilson - Payne County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Billy Ringwald 07 Mar 2010 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 ===================================================================== ::Mt. Hope Cemetery--Ripley OK Archie Wilson Ringwald Archie Wilson Ringwald, age 71, of Bethany, died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004, in Bethany. Services will be held in the Strode Chapel Saturday at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery near Ripley under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Family will be receiving friends in the Strode Hospitality Center Saturday from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born October 25, 1933 during the famous dust bowl era in Moscow, Stevens County, Kansas to John William and Eva (Wilson) Ringwald. He grew up and attended school in Ripley, Oklahoma and graduated from Ripley in 1950. His family was originally from the Perkins and Ripley area of Payne County. Upon graduation Ringwald enlisted in the U. S. Navy in the fall of 1950. He remained in the Navy until the late 1960's at which time he was discharged because of a disability. During his Navy Career he was assigned to many exciting and interesting ships and stations. His first duty station was on the lonely atoll of Kwajalien in the Marshall Islands of the Mid Pacific. His next duty was aboard the destroyer USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884) in task force 77 during the Korean War. After reenlisting for his 2nd hitch his next assignment was with the famed Underwater Demolition Team 11 (UDT-11) at the US Naval Amphibious Base at Coranodo, California. After leaving UDT Ringwald was given an Congressional appointment to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland but after attending Prep School he ressigned his appointment to return to the fleet to help commission the new Destroyer Leader USS Willis A. Lee (DL-4) of which he is a plank owner. During the 1960's Ringwald served aboard the Amphibious Attack Transports USS Arneb (AKA-56) and USS Monrovia (APA-31). He was privileged to participate in Operation Deep Freeze replenishing the station at Macmurdo Sound, Antarctica near the South Pole. It was an exciting time for him. Durings his Naval career Ringwald attained the grade of E-6 Petty Officer 1st Class and was a Storekeeper by rate. He was a member of the American Legion and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and worked hard supporting it. Archie was a man that was proud of his American Heritage and was proud to serve his country in the U. S. Navy and spent many years at sea during the Korean, Viet Nam and Cold Wars and earned metals and citations during these times. After leaving the Navy Archie worked at various jobs throughout Northern Oklahoma. He married Jean Brown in 1969 in Northern Oklahoma. They were blessed with a daughter Sharla Van. Archie and Jean were later divorced. Ringwald enjoyed the hobbies of hunting, fishing,camping and gardening.. He was an expert marksman and fisherman as well as an avid and successful gardener. He loved to chop wood and could swing an axe or splitting sledge along with the best of any woodsman. Some of his fondest days were spent along the Cimarron River near Ripley. He was a friend to everyone that showed themselves to be friendly. He enjoyed the company of his family and many friends. Archie was an ardent sports fan and supported OSU in all of their games. He believed in God and was baptized into the Christian Church but was not a member of any fellowship or congregation. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers Wayne Harold and John Arther. Survivors include his former wife and friend Jean, his daughter Sharla and her husband Tom of Oklahoma City, two brothers Dale L. Ringwald and wife Marion of Kerrville, Texas, and Billy Ray Ringwald and wife Bonnie of Stonewall, Oklahoma, three sisters Wanda Lee Maddux and husband Bill of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Lucille Terrel and husband Garland of Marble Falls, Texas and Val Sims and her husband Robert of Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout Oklahoma and Texas and friends and shipmates without number over all of the United States. Those who wish to make a memorial contribution can make it to: Payne County Veterans' Monument, in care of Strode Funeral Home, 610 S. Duncan, Stillwater, OK. 74074. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at www.strodefh.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Payne County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/payne/payne.html