Obituary for Bill Anderson

Bill Anderson

May 16, 1920 – May 27, 2019

Billy Ray Anderson, age 99, of Ponca City, Oklahoma passed away May 27, 2019.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Trout Funeral Home & Crematory with Carolyn Rickner officiating. Bill will be laid to rest at Pond Creek Cemetery following the service.

Bill was born on May 16, 1920 in Talihina, Oklahoma to Bethel Eugene and Gertie Lee (Elliott) Anderson.
He was born into a large family he loved and cherished his entire life. The family lived in Talihina until Bill was 7. From there, they moved to Hominy, Oklahoma and then back to Talihina when he was 17. He loved horses and from an early age rode every chance he could. At just around 10 years old he jockeyed for local ranchers and horse owners at the weekend horse races held just outside of town. Bill developed a strong work ethic as a young man and was willing to take on any job available to contribute to his family during difficult times. He broke horses, worked fields with a mule team, cut fire lanes through the hills around Talihina, and once dug a water well and lined it with stone, all by hand.

It certainly wasn’t all hard work for Bill growing up. Besides horses, Bill loved music. He loved dances and live entertainment and was a big fan of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. As a young man, he saw Bob Wills play twice. The first was at a dancehall near Pawhuska and he had to hitchhike from Hominy to get there. He was a dedicated fan.

Bill married the love of his life, Katherine Bell on February 28, 1942 in Talihina. Not long after, he was called to report to the Army Air Corp in support of World War II. After a stop in Africa, he was deployed to an air base in India where he loaded and armed bombers and made long trips by train across India to restock munitions. Upon his return home, Bill began working in the oil fields. He and Katherine had started their family in Ada Oklahoma and at $1.50 per hour for drillers and 90 cents for floor hands, the money was just too good to pass up. He went to work for Kirkpatrick & Bale Drilling and after a long and successful career he retired as a Tool Pusher from Wil-Mc Oil with 20 years of service. Bill and Kathrine moved the family to Pond Creek, and then Jefferson, Oklahoma, where they lived for 40 years before finally retiring in Ponca City.

Soon after moving to Ponca City and celebrating 60 years of marriage, Kathrine passed away in October of 2002. With the support and caring of family and his longtime friends from Jefferson, Pond Creek and Medford, Bill began to make friends and build relationships within his new community and among his new neighbors. Because the people of Ponca City were so willing to reciprocate his openness, kindness and generosity, he has made so many dear friends here. The simple act of paying his utility bill or having breakfast at the Pioneer Technology Center or Cobbs Diner would often generate great friendships and lifelong bonds. When Bill would invite someone to come over to see his fish or to take a ride in the Cadillac, it was hard to resist the offer.

Bill stayed active throughout his retirement, pursuing his interest in carpentry, cement work, Koi and his favorite, a 1954 Cadillac Coup de Ville. Bill often expressed his caring and generosity through these interests as well. Whether it was building a step for one of his children or a beloved neighbor, working on a remodeling project or dropping everything to help with a plumbing emergency or just spending time with friends and family by the koi pond or cruising in the Cadillac.

His passing leaves a hole in our lives that only the memories of his genuine kindness, his generosity and his humor can fill.

Source: Trout Funeral Home