Willie Adam Stolhand, 95, Towanda, died Sunday, March 24, 2013, at Lakepoint Nursing Center, El Dorado. Services will be at 1:30 p.m., Thursday at Towanda United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family present will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday at Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado. Interment will follow the funeral in Towanda Cemetery.
Willie was born on Jan. 7, 1918, in Maize County, Okla., the son of John Austin and Nancy Alifair (Seymour) Stolhand. He was drafted into the Army in 1942. He worked as a Santa Fe Freight agent in Iola, and then in 1951 moved to Towanda where he worked for Boeing and then took a job at Beech Aircraft. He started at Beech at 95 cents an hour. He worked as a tool crib attendant; expediter and tool scheduler. On Feb. 12, 1981, Willie retired after 30 years of working for Beech Aircraft.
He was a member of Towanda Methodist Church and the American Legion Post 406. He enjoyed spending time with his family, and working on his hobbies which included woodworking, leatherwork, bird watching, feeding his birds, fishing, camping, doing crossword puzzles and chewing tobacco.
On April 15, 1949, Willie and Wilma Wells were united in marriage in Iola.
Survivors include his wife and nine children and their spouses, Lucille Thomas, El Dorado, Frank Schomaker and wife Janice, Humboldt, Mary Young and husband Darrel, Garnett, John Schomaker and wife Betty, El Dorado, Louise Campbell, Bella Vista, Ark., Brenda Dodson and husband Marvin, Towanda, Willey Stolhand and wife Kenetha, El Dorado, Judy Edwards, Ponca City, Okla., Carol Lauver and husband Bill, Ponca City, and two honorary sons and their spouses Gene Thomas and wife Joyce, Towanda, and Don Arnold and wife Vicki, Towanda. In addition they have 34 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren and 30 great-great-grandchildren. Willie’s family totaled around 180 counting all his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and their spouses.
Memorials may be made to the American Kidney Foundation and left with Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado, which is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences to the family can be sent to www.carlsoncolonial.com.
Willie Stolhand
