WILLARD E. REDINGER was born
September 26, 1917 in Seiling, OK. He died Monday, January 18,
2010 in Seiling. He graduated from Seiling High School in 1936
and in 1937, he graduated from Williams Institute of Embalming where
he received his embalmers license and returned to Seiling to work
with his father, N. S. Redinger. He married Violet Cofer,
December 24, 1937 at Seiling and they made their home southwest of
Seiling where he lived until age 90 when he moved to the Seiling
Nursing Center.
Willard
became a licensed pilot in the 1940’s and owned three planes which
he enjoyed very much.. In 1945, he bought half interest in the
Redinger Hardware with his brother, James. In 1950, they
purchased the Redinger Funeral Home from their father which they
operated, along with the ambulance service, Redinger Hardware and
Western Propane. In 1972, Willard sold his half interest in
the funeral home to his nephew, Ronnie Redinger. He continued
with the Redinger Hardware and Western Propane until his retirement
in 1978.
After
retirement and spending several weeks flying his airplanes, he
wanted to do something more. He began working at the Seiling
Hospital as an x-ray technician three years. In January 1981,
he made his first trip to Haiti alone to give medical aid to those
who could not afford a doctor. He was led to a Christian
Haitian director who became his interpreter, his driver and guide
for all future trips to Haiti. Willard made thirty three trips
to Haiti, providing medical supplies and food for orphanages and
poor people of Haiti. His work in Haiti became his passion.
Willard
was a member of the Seiling Friends Church (now known as Crossroads
Community Church) where he served in several capacities. He
was the only announcer for the Seiling junior high and senior high
football games from 1947 to 2001 and became known as the “Voice of
the Wildcats.” During those years, he only missed
announcing three games. He served as chairman for the Dewey
County Salvation Army twenty years, served on the Community
Ambulance Board and was inducted into the Dewey County Hall of Fame
in 1988.
He
was preceded in death by his wife, Violet in 1994. He is
survived by one son: W. Lynn Redinger and wife Shirleen of Edmond;
one daughter: Linda Hollenback and husband Bill of Twin Lakes, CO;
three grandchildren: Kelly Hale and husband Mike of Wichita, KS,
Lance Redinger and wife Nancy of Edmond and Brooke Redinger of
Edmond; four great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, other
relatives and friends.
The
funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 20,
2010 at the Redinger Funeral Home Chapel with Orville White, Pastor
of the Elm Grove Community Church, officiating. Interment
followed in the Brumfield Cemetery under the direction of the Redinger
Funeral Home.
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