Obituary for Russel McGhee

Ponca City Now - March 8, 2022 4:15 pm

Russel Ray McGhee

June 5, 1930 – March 3, 2022

Russel Ray McGhee, a veteran of the Korean War and longtime Ponca City resident, left this life on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at the age of 91. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Trout Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tom Howard officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at the Odd Fellows Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Russel was born June 5, 1930, in Carney, OK, to Olsie and Mary McGhee. He attended school in Carney and Stillwater, OK. He served in the United States Army, including 11 months in the Korean conflict. He received the Korean Service Medal, two bronze stars, and a UN Service Medal. Following his honorable discharge in 1952, he was employed at Wards Chevrolet dealership in Stillwater, OK until moving to Ponca City in 1961. Russel worked for Chevrolet for 50 years until his retirement in 2001 and was a multi-award-winning General Motors Parts Manager.

On March 14, 1974, he and the former Melba Townley Branch were married in Ponca City, where they made their home. Russel was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church and the American Legion Post 14. He was a lover of the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and working in his yard.

He is survived by his loving wife, Melba, of the home; son, Mike McGhee and his wife, Pam, of Crawford, CO; daughter, Cindi Meberg and her husband, Mark, of Stillwater, OK; grandchildren, Sean Stephens of Stillwater, OK, and Kiah Wright of Columbia, MO; step-granddaughter, Tammy Taylor of Crawford, CO; 5 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Virginia Welsh and half-brother, Jewel Kates of Stillwater.

Pallbearers will be David Chaney, Chance Dayton, Mark Meberg, Sean Stephens, Mike Townley and Steve Townley.

Source: Trout Funeral Home