The Tuttle Times
Tuttle, Grady Co, OK
Published: 24 Jul 2008
(permission granted)

Bill D. Price age 74, of Newcastle, passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2008. He was born on Dec. 19, 1933 in Graham, Texas to Ferris Dee Price and Ellen Mae Marsh. Bill's early years growing up were in Texas and Bethany.

When Bill was a young boy, his father married Cordia Ingle. This union created a family of seven children, each of whom Bill loved dearly. His high school years were in Noble were he graduated with the class of 1952.

During his junior year, he enlisted into the United States Marine Corp where he proudly served his country for five years. After being honorably discharged in 1955, he returned to Oklahoma and moved to Norman. He began working for Masters Mayflower Moving Co. and it was there he met the love of his life, Joyce Murrell. They were married on May 17, 1958 in Washington, Okla.

In August of 1960, Bill started a career in law enforcement by joining the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. In 1973, OHP Lt. Bill Price and Lt. Bill Hollars saw the need to create an academy where young and women could learn what it takes to be a trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. In 1974, the Cadet Lawman Academy was born. Since that time, 3,792 cadets have attended the academy.

Bill and Joyce lived in Lawton for their first seven years. They later moved to Del City were they lived another seven years. In 1974 they made their permanent home in Newcastle where they r aised their three children. Bill worked 22 years for the Oklahoma Dept. of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, retiring in 1982 as First Lieutenant and Troup Commander for Safety Education.

After retiring from the patrol, he went to work for Oklahoma Tank Lines where he served 18 years as vice president of safety before retiring again in 2000. Bill spent his entire life serving his fellow man, his state and his country. Throughout his working years he was also a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard where he dedicated a total of 34 years before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer.

While living in Del City, Bill was ordained a deacon in the Baptist Church on Jan. 17, 1971. After moving to Newcastle he remained a deacon and became a faithful member of the Newcastle First Baptist Church where he served on various committees over the years.

For enjoyment, Bill liked to travel with his family and friends. But most of all Bill liked spending time with his children and grandchildren and doing what they liked to do. He will be remembered as a loving husband, a wonderful father, father-n-law and grandfather, a special brother and a dear friend to all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ferris and Ellen Price; stepmother Cordia Price; sister Beverly Thrash; and brother Bill Smith.

He is survived by his wife Joyce of the home; three children and their spouses, Jeff and Sonja Price of Yukon, Terri and Buck Foughty of Bridge Creek and Shelli and Darrin Abel of Newcastle; five brothers and sisters and their spouses, Ernest and Pattie Price of Norman, Jimmy and Rachel Price of Blanchard, Rome and Lisa Ingle of Broken Arrow, aJoan and William Smith of Norman and Jaynan and Tom Trammell of Oklahoma City; sister-in-law Charlotte Smith of Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren, Blake, Dakota, Carson and Legend Price; Brittani and Connor Foughty, Reagan, Kassidy and Emerson Abel, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other loving relatives.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 21, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Newcastle with interment at the Blanchard Cemetery. Officiating were Rev. Brent Parsons, Rev. Bill Gentry and Chaplain Sam Garner. Pallbearers were the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Honor Guard. Honorary Pallbearers are; Blake, Dakota and Carson Price, Reagan Abel, Connor Foughty, Kody Epperly, Greg Price, Bob Pierce, Bill Hollars, Joe Elam, Elmer Roberts, Ed Max, John Thomas, Orvis McMahan, Bob Castle and the Newcastle First Baptist Church Deacons.

Memorials may be made to the Newcastle First Baptist Church, Living the Vision Fund, P.O. Box 299, Newcastle, OK, 73065. Arrangements were with Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Newcastle.