Obit of Word, Elta Lorraine Hibler - Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 26 Dec 2010 Return to Roger Mills County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Red Hill Cemetery--Hammon OK Surnames: Word, Hibler, Bailey, Bodkins, Zachary, Rodgers, Morton, D'Achille Originally posted at: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oklahoma.counties.rogermills/9220/mb.ashx Elta Lorraine Hibler Word was born on March 18, 1920 in Frederick, Oklahoma. She died in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 15, 2010. Services will be held at the Hammon United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2010 with Rev. Chuck Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow at Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma under the direction of Martin Funeral Home of Elk City. Elta Hibler graduated from high school in Hammon, Oklahoma in 1936. She attended Southwestern Oklahoma State Teachers College in Weatherford, Oklahoma for one year then transferred to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. She graduated from OU in 1940 with a BA degree and a major in Journalism. She worked her way through college. It was at OU that she got better acquainted with Marshall Word who grew up 12 miles from Hammon in Butler. After graduating from OU, Elta worked two years at the First National Bank and Trust Company in Tulsa. She and Lt. Marshall Word were married in the First Methodist Church in Sacramento, California on May 16, 1942.They later moved to Gardner Field in Taft, California and then transferred to Kirkland Field, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Elta was a volunteer office worker for the American Red Cross. After Marshall deployed overseas in 1944, Elta moved to be with her parents in Charleston, South Carolina. While in Charleston their son, William Marshall Word, was born on December 17, 1944. Marshall Word was shot down over the mountains of Yugoslavia on December 26, 1944 and did not learn that he was a father until he was rescued many weeks later. When Marshall returned in 1945 the family moved to Grenier Field, Manchester, NH where they lived for four months. They then returned to Elk City, Oklahoma where they lived until May of 1949 when they moved to Arnett, Oklahoma. Marshall established a law practice in Arnett. Richard Lowell Word was born on September 30, 1949. Elta was a legal secretary for Marshall's law practice until their retirement in 1982. She was an excellent typist and enjoyed her work and meeting clients; she particularly enjoyed legal services they provided for many adoption proceedings. She was a member of the Oklahoma and National Association of Legal Secretaries. Elta continued tax preparation work for several years after they closed the law office. Tom and Bruce Bailey, foster children, made their home with the Words for nine years. Elta and her family were very active in the United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts, and American Legion service work. She served as Sunday School teacher, church historian, choir member, Administrative Council secretary, Dorcas Circle and United Methodist Women. Elta and Marshall taught literacy classes to Hispanic students in their home for many years during retirement. In 2001 they moved from Arnett to a retirement center in Norman, Oklahoma. Following Marshall's death in 2001, Elta moved to Oklahoma City where she lived until her death. Elta was a treasure to God shared with us for 89 years. She had a genuinely sweet and gentle spirit and exemplified caring, kindness, compassion, generosity, and concern for others. This lady, and she was truly a lady, will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband Marshall, her parents W.B. and Maude Hibler, and her sister Reah Gayle Hibler Bodkin. Elta leaves as survivors her sons, Bill and wife Janie of Enid, Oklahoma and Rick and wife Joan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; three grandchildren Jeff Word and wife Chelsi of Frisco, Texas, Lindsey Word of Houston, Texas and Josh Word and wife Veronica, El Cajon, California; her brother, W.C. Hibler and wife Mary of Hammon, Oklahoma; three great grandsons, Benton Word, Davis Word and Eric Word; two great granddaughters, Emily Word and Maggie Word; four much-loved nieces Kaye Bodkins Zachary, Sherry Bodkins Rodgers, Diane Bodkin Morton and Donna Hibler D'Achille; two nephews Robert Hibler and Dennis Hibler and many great nieces and nephews. In accordance with Elta's wishes, memorial donations can be made to the Arnett United Methodist Church or United Methodist Boys Ranch through the Martin Funeral Home, 600 W Country Club, Elk City, OK 73644. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 17-Mar-2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Roger Mills Archives http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html