Lynton E. (Gene) Connally was born February 19, 1922 in Mena, AR, and passed away April 15, 2007.
In 1942, he met and married Jera Balentine of Hominy, OK and on December 23rd, they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Shortly after their marriage, Gene was called into the Army and served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during WWII, and later in the Korean War. He earned seven battle stars and the Bronze Star for his service. In February 1958, Gene was retired from the Army for medical disability. At the time of his retirement, he was commander of the only unit in the 1st Armored Division capable of firing an atomic weapon. Gene loved to fly, and after he retired from the Army, he went to flight training and became a certified commercial flight instructor (airplane and instrument) in single and multi-engine aircraft, and in time, earned the highest rating of Airline Transport Pilot. He served as a flight instructor at Big Spring, TX for the US Air Force primary training program from 1965 through 1969. Most of the pilots he trained went on to serve their country in Vietnam.
In 1969, he returned to Oklahoma City, got a broker's license and worked in real estate until his retirement in 1981. He was a dedicated member of the Gideon International Ministry, serving in most camp positions including Camp President for three years. Along with other Gideons, they placed hundreds of Bibles in hotels, motels, and nursing homes as well as distributed thousands of New Testaments to students at schools and colleges in the Oklahoma City area. As a Gideon speaker, he took the Gideon message to churches throughout Oklahoma and Florida and was very active in the jail and prison ministry. Gene was a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, where he served as a deacon, senior adult president, usher, and department director. He and his wife were supporters of the Church Missionary projects, and participated in mission trips to Brazil, Romania, and Australia.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, and two daughters. He is survived by his wife, Jera; oldest daughter Valeda and her husband Richard Young of Onalaska, TX, and daughter Doreen and her husband Stephen Morris of Boerne, TX; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home and interment will be 3:00 p.m. at Hominy, OK.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Gideons International of Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on 4/17/2007.
In 1942, he met and married Jera Balentine of Hominy, OK and on December 23rd, they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Shortly after their marriage, Gene was called into the Army and served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during WWII, and later in the Korean War. He earned seven battle stars and the Bronze Star for his service. In February 1958, Gene was retired from the Army for medical disability. At the time of his retirement, he was commander of the only unit in the 1st Armored Division capable of firing an atomic weapon. Gene loved to fly, and after he retired from the Army, he went to flight training and became a certified commercial flight instructor (airplane and instrument) in single and multi-engine aircraft, and in time, earned the highest rating of Airline Transport Pilot. He served as a flight instructor at Big Spring, TX for the US Air Force primary training program from 1965 through 1969. Most of the pilots he trained went on to serve their country in Vietnam.
In 1969, he returned to Oklahoma City, got a broker's license and worked in real estate until his retirement in 1981. He was a dedicated member of the Gideon International Ministry, serving in most camp positions including Camp President for three years. Along with other Gideons, they placed hundreds of Bibles in hotels, motels, and nursing homes as well as distributed thousands of New Testaments to students at schools and colleges in the Oklahoma City area. As a Gideon speaker, he took the Gideon message to churches throughout Oklahoma and Florida and was very active in the jail and prison ministry. Gene was a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, where he served as a deacon, senior adult president, usher, and department director. He and his wife were supporters of the Church Missionary projects, and participated in mission trips to Brazil, Romania, and Australia.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, and two daughters. He is survived by his wife, Jera; oldest daughter Valeda and her husband Richard Young of Onalaska, TX, and daughter Doreen and her husband Stephen Morris of Boerne, TX; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home and interment will be 3:00 p.m. at Hominy, OK.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Gideons International of Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on 4/17/2007.
Lynton E. (Gene) Connally was born February 19, 1922 in Mena, AR, and passed away April 15, 2007.
In 1942, he met and married Jera Balentine of Hominy, OK and on December 23rd, they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Shortly after their marriage, Gene was called into the Army and served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during WWII, and later in the Korean War. He earned seven battle stars and the Bronze Star for his service. In February 1958, Gene was retired from the Army for medical disability. At the time of his retirement, he was commander of the only unit in the 1st Armored Division capable of firing an atomic weapon. Gene loved to fly, and after he retired from the Army, he went to flight training and became a certified commercial flight instructor (airplane and instrument) in single and multi-engine aircraft, and in time, earned the highest rating of Airline Transport Pilot. He served as a flight instructor at Big Spring, TX for the US Air Force primary training program from 1965 through 1969. Most of the pilots he trained went on to serve their country in Vietnam.
In 1969, he returned to Oklahoma City, got a broker's license and worked in real estate until his retirement in 1981. He was a dedicated member of the Gideon International Ministry, serving in most camp positions including Camp President for three years. Along with other Gideons, they placed hundreds of Bibles in hotels, motels, and nursing homes as well as distributed thousands of New Testaments to students at schools and colleges in the Oklahoma City area. As a Gideon speaker, he took the Gideon message to churches throughout Oklahoma and Florida and was very active in the jail and prison ministry. Gene was a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, where he served as a deacon, senior adult president, usher, and department director. He and his wife were supporters of the Church Missionary projects, and participated in mission trips to Brazil, Romania, and Australia.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, and two daughters. He is survived by his wife, Jera; oldest daughter Valeda and her husband Richard Young of Onalaska, TX, and daughter Doreen and her husband Stephen Morris of Boerne, TX; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home and interment will be 3:00 p.m. at Hominy, OK.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Gideons International of Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on 4/17/2007.
In 1942, he met and married Jera Balentine of Hominy, OK and on December 23rd, they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Shortly after their marriage, Gene was called into the Army and served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during WWII, and later in the Korean War. He earned seven battle stars and the Bronze Star for his service. In February 1958, Gene was retired from the Army for medical disability. At the time of his retirement, he was commander of the only unit in the 1st Armored Division capable of firing an atomic weapon. Gene loved to fly, and after he retired from the Army, he went to flight training and became a certified commercial flight instructor (airplane and instrument) in single and multi-engine aircraft, and in time, earned the highest rating of Airline Transport Pilot. He served as a flight instructor at Big Spring, TX for the US Air Force primary training program from 1965 through 1969. Most of the pilots he trained went on to serve their country in Vietnam.
In 1969, he returned to Oklahoma City, got a broker's license and worked in real estate until his retirement in 1981. He was a dedicated member of the Gideon International Ministry, serving in most camp positions including Camp President for three years. Along with other Gideons, they placed hundreds of Bibles in hotels, motels, and nursing homes as well as distributed thousands of New Testaments to students at schools and colleges in the Oklahoma City area. As a Gideon speaker, he took the Gideon message to churches throughout Oklahoma and Florida and was very active in the jail and prison ministry. Gene was a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, where he served as a deacon, senior adult president, usher, and department director. He and his wife were supporters of the Church Missionary projects, and participated in mission trips to Brazil, Romania, and Australia.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, and two daughters. He is survived by his wife, Jera; oldest daughter Valeda and her husband Richard Young of Onalaska, TX, and daughter Doreen and her husband Stephen Morris of Boerne, TX; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home and interment will be 3:00 p.m. at Hominy, OK.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Gideons International of Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on 4/17/2007.
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1942
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