Lewis William Randall, 87, died June 26, 2009.
He was born Sept. 22, 1921, in Alma, Neb., son of Vernon and Emily Reynolds Randall. He and Gloria Raye Short were married June 25, 1947, in Los Angeles.
He lived in Nebraska until the age of 4, when his family moved to Jennings, Kan. He moved to Houston in 1935 and graduated from Houston High School in 1939.
He farmed in Nebraska until he entered the Coast Guard on Oct. 13, 1942. He was stationed at Curtis Bay, Md. He was later assigned to the USS Hutchinson and served two years in the South Pacific and Philippines. He later served eight months in Fremantle, Australia, where he met his wife, Gloria. He was honorable discharged Feb. 12, 1946.
He attended National Railroad College in Omaha, Neb., in 1951 and upon completion, worked for Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming. After two years, he moved to Kansas and was territorial equipment manager for Richardson Manufacturing.
In 1969, he moved to Blackwell, Okla., and managed Long’s John Deere. He retired in 1984 and enjoyed farming, working with cattle and other farm-related projects.
He enjoyed traveling, including a six-month trip around the world, with his wife. They also returned to Australia many times.
He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and held a lifetime membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also served as commander of the American Legion in Kansas.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria of Blackwell, Okla.; two sons, William Randall of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Robert Randall of Kaw City, Okla.; three sisters, Wilma Ballard of Mountain Grove, Irene Longwell of Greely, Colo.; and Laveda Douglas of Houston; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and seven nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Karen Faye Dandridge.
Services were Wednesday, July 1, at Roberts Funeral Home Chapel in Blackwell, Okla., with the Rev. Eric Dittman officiating. Burial with military honors was in Blackwell Cemetery.
