Funeral service for Donald Thomas Aycock will be at 12:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2024 at Lawton First Assembly, Lawton, Oklahoma.
Burial with military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Viewing for Mr. Aycock will be Thursday, December 21, 2023 through Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the funeral home.
October 7, 1921-December 7, 2023
Don died peacefully at the home of his daughter, Nancy Shaffer on the early morning of Thursday, December 7, 2023 with his son Bobby Aycock at his side.
He was born in a sod house in the plains of southeast Colorado located near the town of Arapahoe, in Cheyenne county to James Albert Aycock & Minnie Ella Wray. Don was the youngest of six children. Being farmers, the children were raised to work on the spread and had daily chores starting with milking the dairy cows every morning. Being the first to arise, Don would get his share of the cows milked before his brothers. When the Dust bowl days hit, Don remembered using a rope to navigate between their house and the barn. Unfortunately, the homestead was lost due to the dust bowl conditions and they packed up and resettled in the Moore, Oklahoma area operating a farm approximately 8 miles outside of town. In high school, Don lettered in track, basketball, baseball and football. After graduating in 1939, Don earned a football scholarship to an Oklahoma community college. Unfortunately, being the last remaining child to help work on the farm, he declined the scholarship to help his father work the farm.
Don met his wife, Marguerite (Rita) Felton at Union Grove Community Church where they were both saved and baptized. Attending church and living a life in service to Jesus was always an important part of their lives. They were married in 1941 and he enlisted in the U.S. Army nine months later in January 1942. Soon after basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Don deployed with the U.S. Army to engage in WWII. He landed on Utah beach in Normandy France nineteen days after D Day, June 6, 1944. Don acted as a runner for the survey unit. He set the readings for the artillery and moved up toward the front several times a day. His unit was the first artillery unit to move through France and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland Ardennes, Normandy, Northern France and central Europe battles and campaigns. Throughout this time of war and serving in the military, he kept his commitment to the Lord paramount. While others of his unit went to town to enjoy their time on leave, he would spend his time alone finding comfort in his faith.
After his military discharge and in 1951 he and Rita settled in Lawton, Oklahoma where they established several retail businesses. Don had learned the tile setting trade while working for his father-in-law and set up a business in Lawton. Rita operated a gift shop in the front while Don operated the tile business out of the back. In 1961 they bought Cargill's flower shop expanding it to include bridal and formalwear in 1970. Upon selling the flower shop in 1978 they continued operating Aycock's Bridal & Formals until their retirement in 2004.
Don and Rita were members of Lawton First Assembly of God church, Dad served as a deacon, and they both were members of the choir. During the late 1950s Don volunteered as a coordinator in Lawton for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, serving in their film ministry outreach to witness and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don was active in that capacity through 1979. In 2022 Don was recognized by the Billy Graham organization in the March edition of Decision magazine followed by a celebration in honor of his 101st birthday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On occasion while out and about, people would see Don's WWII hat (which he always wore) and buy his meal or stop to chat, shake his hand, thank him for his service and take a picture with him. One young woman said, "Thank you for my freedom." Don was touched and moved by everyone, but those words held a special meaning to him. After 76 years of marriage, Don's beloved wife, Rita, passed away on November 17, 2017. Don and Rita were an inspiration to many people. Don was a man who never gave up. He wore his body completely out, worked hard all his life without complaint. The long journey is over for a good man who loved the Lord and his family. A life well lived, and a job well done. Thank you, Don, for your service to God, family and country.
Don is survived by his daughter Nancy Shaffer and husband Ron, of Mattews, North Carolina, son, Bobby Aycock of Lawton, Oklahoma, grandchildren, Beth Linger and husband Paul of Matthews, North Carolina, Amy Carrera and husband Rommel of San Rafael, California, Thomas Shaffer of Woodland, Washington, Robbie Shaffer and wife Sarah of Kirkland, Washington, Samuel Aycock of Post Oak, Texas, five great grandchildren, Melanie, Amiyah and Faith Linger, Dillon and Walter Shaffer, Leo and Sami Carera.
Surviving nieces: Marcia Aycock, Susan Reagan Wilkes, Debra Lee Smith, Janet Felton Med lock, Lisa Felton Slovacek. Surviving nephews: Charles, Gary and Galen Aycock, Dwight Lunow, Jon and Mike Reagan, Randy, Jimmy and Larry Felton.
Burial with military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Viewing for Mr. Aycock will be Thursday, December 21, 2023 through Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the funeral home.
October 7, 1921-December 7, 2023
Don died peacefully at the home of his daughter, Nancy Shaffer on the early morning of Thursday, December 7, 2023 with his son Bobby Aycock at his side.
He was born in a sod house in the plains of southeast Colorado located near the town of Arapahoe, in Cheyenne county to James Albert Aycock & Minnie Ella Wray. Don was the youngest of six children. Being farmers, the children were raised to work on the spread and had daily chores starting with milking the dairy cows every morning. Being the first to arise, Don would get his share of the cows milked before his brothers. When the Dust bowl days hit, Don remembered using a rope to navigate between their house and the barn. Unfortunately, the homestead was lost due to the dust bowl conditions and they packed up and resettled in the Moore, Oklahoma area operating a farm approximately 8 miles outside of town. In high school, Don lettered in track, basketball, baseball and football. After graduating in 1939, Don earned a football scholarship to an Oklahoma community college. Unfortunately, being the last remaining child to help work on the farm, he declined the scholarship to help his father work the farm.
Don met his wife, Marguerite (Rita) Felton at Union Grove Community Church where they were both saved and baptized. Attending church and living a life in service to Jesus was always an important part of their lives. They were married in 1941 and he enlisted in the U.S. Army nine months later in January 1942. Soon after basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Don deployed with the U.S. Army to engage in WWII. He landed on Utah beach in Normandy France nineteen days after D Day, June 6, 1944. Don acted as a runner for the survey unit. He set the readings for the artillery and moved up toward the front several times a day. His unit was the first artillery unit to move through France and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland Ardennes, Normandy, Northern France and central Europe battles and campaigns. Throughout this time of war and serving in the military, he kept his commitment to the Lord paramount. While others of his unit went to town to enjoy their time on leave, he would spend his time alone finding comfort in his faith.
After his military discharge and in 1951 he and Rita settled in Lawton, Oklahoma where they established several retail businesses. Don had learned the tile setting trade while working for his father-in-law and set up a business in Lawton. Rita operated a gift shop in the front while Don operated the tile business out of the back. In 1961 they bought Cargill's flower shop expanding it to include bridal and formalwear in 1970. Upon selling the flower shop in 1978 they continued operating Aycock's Bridal & Formals until their retirement in 2004.
Don and Rita were members of Lawton First Assembly of God church, Dad served as a deacon, and they both were members of the choir. During the late 1950s Don volunteered as a coordinator in Lawton for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, serving in their film ministry outreach to witness and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don was active in that capacity through 1979. In 2022 Don was recognized by the Billy Graham organization in the March edition of Decision magazine followed by a celebration in honor of his 101st birthday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On occasion while out and about, people would see Don's WWII hat (which he always wore) and buy his meal or stop to chat, shake his hand, thank him for his service and take a picture with him. One young woman said, "Thank you for my freedom." Don was touched and moved by everyone, but those words held a special meaning to him. After 76 years of marriage, Don's beloved wife, Rita, passed away on November 17, 2017. Don and Rita were an inspiration to many people. Don was a man who never gave up. He wore his body completely out, worked hard all his life without complaint. The long journey is over for a good man who loved the Lord and his family. A life well lived, and a job well done. Thank you, Don, for your service to God, family and country.
Don is survived by his daughter Nancy Shaffer and husband Ron, of Mattews, North Carolina, son, Bobby Aycock of Lawton, Oklahoma, grandchildren, Beth Linger and husband Paul of Matthews, North Carolina, Amy Carrera and husband Rommel of San Rafael, California, Thomas Shaffer of Woodland, Washington, Robbie Shaffer and wife Sarah of Kirkland, Washington, Samuel Aycock of Post Oak, Texas, five great grandchildren, Melanie, Amiyah and Faith Linger, Dillon and Walter Shaffer, Leo and Sami Carera.
Surviving nieces: Marcia Aycock, Susan Reagan Wilkes, Debra Lee Smith, Janet Felton Med lock, Lisa Felton Slovacek. Surviving nephews: Charles, Gary and Galen Aycock, Dwight Lunow, Jon and Mike Reagan, Randy, Jimmy and Larry Felton.
Funeral service for Donald Thomas Aycock will be at 12:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2024 at Lawton First Assembly, Lawton, Oklahoma.
Burial with military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Viewing for Mr. Aycock will be Thursday, December 21, 2023 through Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the funeral home.
October 7, 1921-December 7, 2023
Don died peacefully at the home of his daughter, Nancy Shaffer on the early morning of Thursday, December 7, 2023 with his son Bobby Aycock at his side.
He was born in a sod house in the plains of southeast Colorado located near the town of Arapahoe, in Cheyenne county to James Albert Aycock & Minnie Ella Wray. Don was the youngest of six children. Being farmers, the children were raised to work on the spread and had daily chores starting with milking the dairy cows every morning. Being the first to arise, Don would get his share of the cows milked before his brothers. When the Dust bowl days hit, Don remembered using a rope to navigate between their house and the barn. Unfortunately, the homestead was lost due to the dust bowl conditions and they packed up and resettled in the Moore, Oklahoma area operating a farm approximately 8 miles outside of town. In high school, Don lettered in track, basketball, baseball and football. After graduating in 1939, Don earned a football scholarship to an Oklahoma community college. Unfortunately, being the last remaining child to help work on the farm, he declined the scholarship to help his father work the farm.
Don met his wife, Marguerite (Rita) Felton at Union Grove Community Church where they were both saved and baptized. Attending church and living a life in service to Jesus was always an important part of their lives. They were married in 1941 and he enlisted in the U.S. Army nine months later in January 1942. Soon after basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Don deployed with the U.S. Army to engage in WWII. He landed on Utah beach in Normandy France nineteen days after D Day, June 6, 1944. Don acted as a runner for the survey unit. He set the readings for the artillery and moved up toward the front several times a day. His unit was the first artillery unit to move through France and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland Ardennes, Normandy, Northern France and central Europe battles and campaigns. Throughout this time of war and serving in the military, he kept his commitment to the Lord paramount. While others of his unit went to town to enjoy their time on leave, he would spend his time alone finding comfort in his faith.
After his military discharge and in 1951 he and Rita settled in Lawton, Oklahoma where they established several retail businesses. Don had learned the tile setting trade while working for his father-in-law and set up a business in Lawton. Rita operated a gift shop in the front while Don operated the tile business out of the back. In 1961 they bought Cargill's flower shop expanding it to include bridal and formalwear in 1970. Upon selling the flower shop in 1978 they continued operating Aycock's Bridal & Formals until their retirement in 2004.
Don and Rita were members of Lawton First Assembly of God church, Dad served as a deacon, and they both were members of the choir. During the late 1950s Don volunteered as a coordinator in Lawton for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, serving in their film ministry outreach to witness and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don was active in that capacity through 1979. In 2022 Don was recognized by the Billy Graham organization in the March edition of Decision magazine followed by a celebration in honor of his 101st birthday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On occasion while out and about, people would see Don's WWII hat (which he always wore) and buy his meal or stop to chat, shake his hand, thank him for his service and take a picture with him. One young woman said, "Thank you for my freedom." Don was touched and moved by everyone, but those words held a special meaning to him. After 76 years of marriage, Don's beloved wife, Rita, passed away on November 17, 2017. Don and Rita were an inspiration to many people. Don was a man who never gave up. He wore his body completely out, worked hard all his life without complaint. The long journey is over for a good man who loved the Lord and his family. A life well lived, and a job well done. Thank you, Don, for your service to God, family and country.
Don is survived by his daughter Nancy Shaffer and husband Ron, of Mattews, North Carolina, son, Bobby Aycock of Lawton, Oklahoma, grandchildren, Beth Linger and husband Paul of Matthews, North Carolina, Amy Carrera and husband Rommel of San Rafael, California, Thomas Shaffer of Woodland, Washington, Robbie Shaffer and wife Sarah of Kirkland, Washington, Samuel Aycock of Post Oak, Texas, five great grandchildren, Melanie, Amiyah and Faith Linger, Dillon and Walter Shaffer, Leo and Sami Carera.
Surviving nieces: Marcia Aycock, Susan Reagan Wilkes, Debra Lee Smith, Janet Felton Med lock, Lisa Felton Slovacek. Surviving nephews: Charles, Gary and Galen Aycock, Dwight Lunow, Jon and Mike Reagan, Randy, Jimmy and Larry Felton.
Burial with military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Viewing for Mr. Aycock will be Thursday, December 21, 2023 through Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the funeral home.
October 7, 1921-December 7, 2023
Don died peacefully at the home of his daughter, Nancy Shaffer on the early morning of Thursday, December 7, 2023 with his son Bobby Aycock at his side.
He was born in a sod house in the plains of southeast Colorado located near the town of Arapahoe, in Cheyenne county to James Albert Aycock & Minnie Ella Wray. Don was the youngest of six children. Being farmers, the children were raised to work on the spread and had daily chores starting with milking the dairy cows every morning. Being the first to arise, Don would get his share of the cows milked before his brothers. When the Dust bowl days hit, Don remembered using a rope to navigate between their house and the barn. Unfortunately, the homestead was lost due to the dust bowl conditions and they packed up and resettled in the Moore, Oklahoma area operating a farm approximately 8 miles outside of town. In high school, Don lettered in track, basketball, baseball and football. After graduating in 1939, Don earned a football scholarship to an Oklahoma community college. Unfortunately, being the last remaining child to help work on the farm, he declined the scholarship to help his father work the farm.
Don met his wife, Marguerite (Rita) Felton at Union Grove Community Church where they were both saved and baptized. Attending church and living a life in service to Jesus was always an important part of their lives. They were married in 1941 and he enlisted in the U.S. Army nine months later in January 1942. Soon after basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Don deployed with the U.S. Army to engage in WWII. He landed on Utah beach in Normandy France nineteen days after D Day, June 6, 1944. Don acted as a runner for the survey unit. He set the readings for the artillery and moved up toward the front several times a day. His unit was the first artillery unit to move through France and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland Ardennes, Normandy, Northern France and central Europe battles and campaigns. Throughout this time of war and serving in the military, he kept his commitment to the Lord paramount. While others of his unit went to town to enjoy their time on leave, he would spend his time alone finding comfort in his faith.
After his military discharge and in 1951 he and Rita settled in Lawton, Oklahoma where they established several retail businesses. Don had learned the tile setting trade while working for his father-in-law and set up a business in Lawton. Rita operated a gift shop in the front while Don operated the tile business out of the back. In 1961 they bought Cargill's flower shop expanding it to include bridal and formalwear in 1970. Upon selling the flower shop in 1978 they continued operating Aycock's Bridal & Formals until their retirement in 2004.
Don and Rita were members of Lawton First Assembly of God church, Dad served as a deacon, and they both were members of the choir. During the late 1950s Don volunteered as a coordinator in Lawton for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, serving in their film ministry outreach to witness and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don was active in that capacity through 1979. In 2022 Don was recognized by the Billy Graham organization in the March edition of Decision magazine followed by a celebration in honor of his 101st birthday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On occasion while out and about, people would see Don's WWII hat (which he always wore) and buy his meal or stop to chat, shake his hand, thank him for his service and take a picture with him. One young woman said, "Thank you for my freedom." Don was touched and moved by everyone, but those words held a special meaning to him. After 76 years of marriage, Don's beloved wife, Rita, passed away on November 17, 2017. Don and Rita were an inspiration to many people. Don was a man who never gave up. He wore his body completely out, worked hard all his life without complaint. The long journey is over for a good man who loved the Lord and his family. A life well lived, and a job well done. Thank you, Don, for your service to God, family and country.
Don is survived by his daughter Nancy Shaffer and husband Ron, of Mattews, North Carolina, son, Bobby Aycock of Lawton, Oklahoma, grandchildren, Beth Linger and husband Paul of Matthews, North Carolina, Amy Carrera and husband Rommel of San Rafael, California, Thomas Shaffer of Woodland, Washington, Robbie Shaffer and wife Sarah of Kirkland, Washington, Samuel Aycock of Post Oak, Texas, five great grandchildren, Melanie, Amiyah and Faith Linger, Dillon and Walter Shaffer, Leo and Sami Carera.
Surviving nieces: Marcia Aycock, Susan Reagan Wilkes, Debra Lee Smith, Janet Felton Med lock, Lisa Felton Slovacek. Surviving nephews: Charles, Gary and Galen Aycock, Dwight Lunow, Jon and Mike Reagan, Randy, Jimmy and Larry Felton.
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