WILSON-LITTLE FUNERAL HOME

PURCELL-NEWCASTLE, MCCLAIN CO, OK

(permission granted)

Bill Luker, age 89 of Purcell, passed away Friday, January 30, 2015. Joseph William Luker was born August 19, 1925 in Continental, AZ, 1 of 11 children born to Joseph Alvin Luker and Mary Ola (Keller) Luker. He was raised primarily in the Limestone Gap and McAlester area, however, as a sharecropper’s son, he moved to various towns and states following work. At the age of 12, he met a classmate by the name Rita Jones, and vowed that one day, they would be married. Both families moved many times over the next 8 years, but somehow Bill and Rita stayed in touch. At the age of 17, Bill joined the United States Army and served his country proudly during W.W. II. While overseas, Bill wrote many letters back and forth with Rita. He was later discharged from the US Army on December 30, 1945, with two Purple Hearts and a distinguished service record. It wasn’t long before Rita and Bill reconnected, and they were united in marriage on January 12, 1946 in McAlester, Oklahoma. Fourteen months later they headed to California to find work. They settled in Holtville, California, where they raised four children, sons, Gene and Gary, and daughters, Sharon and Joyce. After Bill retired in 1981, they moved back to Atoka, Oklahoma and lived there until settling in Wayne in 1998 to be close to their children. Bill spent most of his retired time doing carpentry work. He was a master craftsman and built the most beautiful clocks, toy chests and anything else you wanted him to make. He loved the Lord and served Him faithfully. After Rita passed away in 2013, he moved to Purcell to live with his daughter, Sharon. Bill was a wonderful example of a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a true friend. He will be dearly missed!

He was preceded in death by: Wife, Rita Luker; Parents, Alvin and Ola Luker; One son-in-law, Alan Keen, One granddaughter, Kristin Widner, One sister, Ocie Little; 7 brothers, Charlie, Amos, Elbert, Delbert, Frank, Jack and Freddie Luker; 1 sister-in-law, Ophelia Slagle and 1 brother-in-law, David Jones.

He is survived by: Four children: Gene Luker and wife Marianne of Broken Arrow, OK, Gary Luker and wife Sandy of Holtville, CA. Sharon Widner and husband David of Purcell, OK, Joyce Keen of Norman, OK, Sister, Josephine Sellers of Abilene, TX, Brother, Jim Luker of El Centro, CA, One sister in law, Frankie Jane Morrow of El Cajon, CA, 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren Many nieces, nephews and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel in Purcell. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell.