Gordon Travis Bickel
August 29, 1944 - March 26, 2026
Gordon Travis Bickel, 81, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Trout Funeral Home Chapel in Tonkawa, with arrangements under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 505 Thunderbird Rd, Tonkawa, OK, 74653.
Gordon was born on August 29, 1944, in Ponca City, to Raymond Custer and Joan (Pappan) Bickel. He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1963 to 1969, carrying that same sense of strength and resilience throughout his life.
He was a man who found joy in the simple things-watching football, old TV shows, trips to the casino, and collecting coins-but more than anything, he loved staying busy and fixing anything he could get his hands on. As a car mechanic for most of his life, Gordon took pride in his work and had a natural talent for understanding how things ran and how to make them run better. If something was broken, Gordon was the one you called. He had a stubborn streak that those who loved him knew well, but it was part of what made him strong, dependable, and uniquely himself.
Above all, Gordon was a family man. He is survived by his wife, Teri, of the home, and his children: Mark Bickel; Shannon Taylor; Bridgette Volz; Michele Benton and her husband, Jim; and Courtney Altman. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his sister, Nina Pruett and her husband, Bill.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ronnie Bickel; and his son-in-law, Brandon Altman.
Gordon’s life was one of quiet strength, loyalty, and love for his family. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience, humor, and the kind of stubborn determination that lives on in those who knew and loved him.
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