Funeral service for Senator Sam Lee Helton will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2016 in First Baptist Church, Walters.
Burial will follow in the Walters Cemetery under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home, Lawton.
The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.
Senator Sam Lee Helton died Sunday, October 30, 2016 at his residence in Walters. Sammy Lee Helton was born August 31, 1954 to Joe and Vallene Helton at Lawton, Oklahoma. He attended Whittier Elementary School, Tomlinson Junior High School and was a 1972 graduate of Lawton High School. He attended Cameron University and Western Oklahoma State College and earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice. He was a graduate of Mid-American Christian University, OKC Campus, with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Sam started working at Cagle’s Grocery Store which was located near his home at a very young age and worked up to store manager while in high school. Following graduation Sam worked for Home Decor and Air Conditioning with his father. He was store manager of Furniture Land, Inc. for several years. In 1982 he joined the Lawton Police Department and worked as a patrol officer, narcotics detective, crime prevention officer and was the coordinator for the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program.
Sam was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1992 and served until his retirement in 2004. Senator Helton was appointed Majority Whip and Chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Military and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. He served on the Senate appropriations Committee as well as the Agriculture Committee and was vice chair and chairman of the Senate Energy and Environmental Committee. He worked and retired as an account manager for Transportation Services and then served as an energy consultant for Centerpoint Energy until his death.
Senator Helton received many awards and honors. He was selected as Lawton Police Officer of the Year by the Lawton Police Department and was selected as Oklahoma Police Officer of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was selected to serve on the national panel and be a site visitor for the U.S. Department of Education’s Drug Free Schools Program, awarding top schools to be recognized by the President of the United States. He was chosen one of the top ten young Oklahoman’s by the Oklahoma Jaycees. He received many awards and honors because of the work he did for our nation’s veterans. Senator Helton was the primary senate author for the legislation for the Lawton / Fort Sill Veteran’s Center and assisted on the state level with the development of the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin. He also served as the primary senate author on the legislation to assist the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with a major expansion which created an additional 200 new jobs.
In 2006 Sam and Jason Wells founded and opened Insight Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, LLC in Lawton. He was an associate broker at Insight at the time of his death.
Sam was a lifelong member of Liberty Heights Chapel. He was a former board member of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and a member and former Board President with Lawton Crime Stoppers.
Sam enjoyed family activities, fishing on the pontoon boat with Kathy, their trips to Cancun, Mexico several times a year, watching college and pro football on weekends, yard work with Kathy, watching WWE Wresting and working out at the Walters Gym.
Sam is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of the home; four children, Christopher Lee Helton and wife Jayme, Lawton, Kayla Vallene Capocciama, Lawton, Randy Allen Pocowatchit and wife Tonya, Wichita Falls, Texas and Weston Ryan Hoodenpyle and fiancé Lacy, Walters; grandchildren, Rylee, Joseph, Cheyenne, Avery and Kelsey; siblings, JoAnn Alford, LaDonna Waterman and husband Larry, Mary Zimmerman, Nancy Barton and husband Larry and Pamela Fisher and husband George; brother-in-law, David Fincher; sister-in-law, Diana Fincher; mother-in-law, Judi Shannon and husband Ken; brother-in-law, Steve Embree and wife Shelly; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sam is preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Mary Baker and Joseph Samuel and Rose Helton, his parents, his brother, Gary Lynn Helton, brother-in-law, Glen Alford, and his son-in-law, Joseph Capocciama.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program or to the Lawton-Fort Sill Veteran’s Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, Lawton OK 73501.
Burial will follow in the Walters Cemetery under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home, Lawton.
The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.
Senator Sam Lee Helton died Sunday, October 30, 2016 at his residence in Walters. Sammy Lee Helton was born August 31, 1954 to Joe and Vallene Helton at Lawton, Oklahoma. He attended Whittier Elementary School, Tomlinson Junior High School and was a 1972 graduate of Lawton High School. He attended Cameron University and Western Oklahoma State College and earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice. He was a graduate of Mid-American Christian University, OKC Campus, with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Sam started working at Cagle’s Grocery Store which was located near his home at a very young age and worked up to store manager while in high school. Following graduation Sam worked for Home Decor and Air Conditioning with his father. He was store manager of Furniture Land, Inc. for several years. In 1982 he joined the Lawton Police Department and worked as a patrol officer, narcotics detective, crime prevention officer and was the coordinator for the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program.
Sam was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1992 and served until his retirement in 2004. Senator Helton was appointed Majority Whip and Chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Military and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. He served on the Senate appropriations Committee as well as the Agriculture Committee and was vice chair and chairman of the Senate Energy and Environmental Committee. He worked and retired as an account manager for Transportation Services and then served as an energy consultant for Centerpoint Energy until his death.
Senator Helton received many awards and honors. He was selected as Lawton Police Officer of the Year by the Lawton Police Department and was selected as Oklahoma Police Officer of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was selected to serve on the national panel and be a site visitor for the U.S. Department of Education’s Drug Free Schools Program, awarding top schools to be recognized by the President of the United States. He was chosen one of the top ten young Oklahoman’s by the Oklahoma Jaycees. He received many awards and honors because of the work he did for our nation’s veterans. Senator Helton was the primary senate author for the legislation for the Lawton / Fort Sill Veteran’s Center and assisted on the state level with the development of the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin. He also served as the primary senate author on the legislation to assist the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with a major expansion which created an additional 200 new jobs.
In 2006 Sam and Jason Wells founded and opened Insight Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, LLC in Lawton. He was an associate broker at Insight at the time of his death.
Sam was a lifelong member of Liberty Heights Chapel. He was a former board member of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and a member and former Board President with Lawton Crime Stoppers.
Sam enjoyed family activities, fishing on the pontoon boat with Kathy, their trips to Cancun, Mexico several times a year, watching college and pro football on weekends, yard work with Kathy, watching WWE Wresting and working out at the Walters Gym.
Sam is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of the home; four children, Christopher Lee Helton and wife Jayme, Lawton, Kayla Vallene Capocciama, Lawton, Randy Allen Pocowatchit and wife Tonya, Wichita Falls, Texas and Weston Ryan Hoodenpyle and fiancé Lacy, Walters; grandchildren, Rylee, Joseph, Cheyenne, Avery and Kelsey; siblings, JoAnn Alford, LaDonna Waterman and husband Larry, Mary Zimmerman, Nancy Barton and husband Larry and Pamela Fisher and husband George; brother-in-law, David Fincher; sister-in-law, Diana Fincher; mother-in-law, Judi Shannon and husband Ken; brother-in-law, Steve Embree and wife Shelly; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sam is preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Mary Baker and Joseph Samuel and Rose Helton, his parents, his brother, Gary Lynn Helton, brother-in-law, Glen Alford, and his son-in-law, Joseph Capocciama.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program or to the Lawton-Fort Sill Veteran’s Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, Lawton OK 73501.
Funeral service for Senator Sam Lee Helton will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2016 in First Baptist Church, Walters.
Burial will follow in the Walters Cemetery under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home, Lawton.
The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.
Senator Sam Lee Helton died Sunday, October 30, 2016 at his residence in Walters. Sammy Lee Helton was born August 31, 1954 to Joe and Vallene Helton at Lawton, Oklahoma. He attended Whittier Elementary School, Tomlinson Junior High School and was a 1972 graduate of Lawton High School. He attended Cameron University and Western Oklahoma State College and earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice. He was a graduate of Mid-American Christian University, OKC Campus, with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Sam started working at Cagle’s Grocery Store which was located near his home at a very young age and worked up to store manager while in high school. Following graduation Sam worked for Home Decor and Air Conditioning with his father. He was store manager of Furniture Land, Inc. for several years. In 1982 he joined the Lawton Police Department and worked as a patrol officer, narcotics detective, crime prevention officer and was the coordinator for the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program.
Sam was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1992 and served until his retirement in 2004. Senator Helton was appointed Majority Whip and Chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Military and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. He served on the Senate appropriations Committee as well as the Agriculture Committee and was vice chair and chairman of the Senate Energy and Environmental Committee. He worked and retired as an account manager for Transportation Services and then served as an energy consultant for Centerpoint Energy until his death.
Senator Helton received many awards and honors. He was selected as Lawton Police Officer of the Year by the Lawton Police Department and was selected as Oklahoma Police Officer of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was selected to serve on the national panel and be a site visitor for the U.S. Department of Education’s Drug Free Schools Program, awarding top schools to be recognized by the President of the United States. He was chosen one of the top ten young Oklahoman’s by the Oklahoma Jaycees. He received many awards and honors because of the work he did for our nation’s veterans. Senator Helton was the primary senate author for the legislation for the Lawton / Fort Sill Veteran’s Center and assisted on the state level with the development of the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin. He also served as the primary senate author on the legislation to assist the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with a major expansion which created an additional 200 new jobs.
In 2006 Sam and Jason Wells founded and opened Insight Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, LLC in Lawton. He was an associate broker at Insight at the time of his death.
Sam was a lifelong member of Liberty Heights Chapel. He was a former board member of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and a member and former Board President with Lawton Crime Stoppers.
Sam enjoyed family activities, fishing on the pontoon boat with Kathy, their trips to Cancun, Mexico several times a year, watching college and pro football on weekends, yard work with Kathy, watching WWE Wresting and working out at the Walters Gym.
Sam is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of the home; four children, Christopher Lee Helton and wife Jayme, Lawton, Kayla Vallene Capocciama, Lawton, Randy Allen Pocowatchit and wife Tonya, Wichita Falls, Texas and Weston Ryan Hoodenpyle and fiancé Lacy, Walters; grandchildren, Rylee, Joseph, Cheyenne, Avery and Kelsey; siblings, JoAnn Alford, LaDonna Waterman and husband Larry, Mary Zimmerman, Nancy Barton and husband Larry and Pamela Fisher and husband George; brother-in-law, David Fincher; sister-in-law, Diana Fincher; mother-in-law, Judi Shannon and husband Ken; brother-in-law, Steve Embree and wife Shelly; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sam is preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Mary Baker and Joseph Samuel and Rose Helton, his parents, his brother, Gary Lynn Helton, brother-in-law, Glen Alford, and his son-in-law, Joseph Capocciama.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program or to the Lawton-Fort Sill Veteran’s Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, Lawton OK 73501.
Burial will follow in the Walters Cemetery under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home, Lawton.
The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.
Senator Sam Lee Helton died Sunday, October 30, 2016 at his residence in Walters. Sammy Lee Helton was born August 31, 1954 to Joe and Vallene Helton at Lawton, Oklahoma. He attended Whittier Elementary School, Tomlinson Junior High School and was a 1972 graduate of Lawton High School. He attended Cameron University and Western Oklahoma State College and earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice. He was a graduate of Mid-American Christian University, OKC Campus, with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Sam started working at Cagle’s Grocery Store which was located near his home at a very young age and worked up to store manager while in high school. Following graduation Sam worked for Home Decor and Air Conditioning with his father. He was store manager of Furniture Land, Inc. for several years. In 1982 he joined the Lawton Police Department and worked as a patrol officer, narcotics detective, crime prevention officer and was the coordinator for the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program.
Sam was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1992 and served until his retirement in 2004. Senator Helton was appointed Majority Whip and Chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Military and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. He served on the Senate appropriations Committee as well as the Agriculture Committee and was vice chair and chairman of the Senate Energy and Environmental Committee. He worked and retired as an account manager for Transportation Services and then served as an energy consultant for Centerpoint Energy until his death.
Senator Helton received many awards and honors. He was selected as Lawton Police Officer of the Year by the Lawton Police Department and was selected as Oklahoma Police Officer of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was selected to serve on the national panel and be a site visitor for the U.S. Department of Education’s Drug Free Schools Program, awarding top schools to be recognized by the President of the United States. He was chosen one of the top ten young Oklahoman’s by the Oklahoma Jaycees. He received many awards and honors because of the work he did for our nation’s veterans. Senator Helton was the primary senate author for the legislation for the Lawton / Fort Sill Veteran’s Center and assisted on the state level with the development of the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin. He also served as the primary senate author on the legislation to assist the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with a major expansion which created an additional 200 new jobs.
In 2006 Sam and Jason Wells founded and opened Insight Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, LLC in Lawton. He was an associate broker at Insight at the time of his death.
Sam was a lifelong member of Liberty Heights Chapel. He was a former board member of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and a member and former Board President with Lawton Crime Stoppers.
Sam enjoyed family activities, fishing on the pontoon boat with Kathy, their trips to Cancun, Mexico several times a year, watching college and pro football on weekends, yard work with Kathy, watching WWE Wresting and working out at the Walters Gym.
Sam is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of the home; four children, Christopher Lee Helton and wife Jayme, Lawton, Kayla Vallene Capocciama, Lawton, Randy Allen Pocowatchit and wife Tonya, Wichita Falls, Texas and Weston Ryan Hoodenpyle and fiancé Lacy, Walters; grandchildren, Rylee, Joseph, Cheyenne, Avery and Kelsey; siblings, JoAnn Alford, LaDonna Waterman and husband Larry, Mary Zimmerman, Nancy Barton and husband Larry and Pamela Fisher and husband George; brother-in-law, David Fincher; sister-in-law, Diana Fincher; mother-in-law, Judi Shannon and husband Ken; brother-in-law, Steve Embree and wife Shelly; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sam is preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Mary Baker and Joseph Samuel and Rose Helton, his parents, his brother, Gary Lynn Helton, brother-in-law, Glen Alford, and his son-in-law, Joseph Capocciama.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton Crime Stoppers Program or to the Lawton-Fort Sill Veteran’s Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, Lawton OK 73501.
