Raymond Lee Chaloupek, 78, a resident of Canton, departed this world on Friday, January 4th at the Fairview Hospital after a lengthy illness. Raymond was born on March 3, 1929, to Joe and Rosa Chaloupek at the family home west of Fairview. He was the eighth of ten children. He attended school in Longdale and other Blaine and Major County rural schools and entered the Army in the early 1950’s. After serving in Germany during the Korean Conflict and being honorably discharged, he returned to Oklahoma where he married Ella Mae Johnson on December 21, 1951. They raised two children. He worked many years as a heavy equipment mechanic in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado on major water construction projects and completed his working career as a dozer operator for Cunningham Brothers and later Lowell “Bud” Cunningham Dirtwork of Fairview. He retired in 1994 after completing 27 years working in the dozer business. He was baptized in 1993 and was a member of the Longdale Community Church. He was an active member of the Fairview VFW Post for a number of years.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and five brothers.
The highlight of his life was becoming a grandfather in 1996 and he is survived by his grandson, Dillon Chaloupek; a son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Debbie Chaloupek of Canton; a daughter and son in-law, Kay and Kennie Martin of Okmulgee; and his step-grandson, Dusty Meyer and Dusty’s son Bradly of Oklahoma City. He is also survived by a brother Clyde Chaloupek and his wife Violet of Canton; a brother Larry Chaloupek and his wife Pat of Cherryvale, Kansas; a sister, Dorothy Wichert of Fairview; a number of nieces and nephews and other relatives; and his very special longtime friend, Betty Snyder of Fairview. Raymond leaves behind numerous dear friends that were a part of his life for many years. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Longdale Community Church and the Canton Christian Church.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 7, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church of Canton with Steve Driskill and Ray Schoonmaker officiating. Interment will be in the Cherryvale Cemetery East of Canton, OK under the direction of Haigler-Pierce Funeral Home, Canton, OK.
