Services for Leland Newton, 100, of Ada are 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Dr. Scott Fenton will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Newton passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at an assisted living center. He was born May 24, 1917 at Mount Vernon, TX to William Harvey and Margaret Creesy Newton. He grew up in Sanger, TX and graduated from Sanger High School in 1935. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from East Central State College in 1941.
He married Marva Nell Todd November 11, 1941 in Las Vegas, NV. She preceded him in death April 1, 1979.
Mr. Newton served in the U. S. Navy. He then moved to Ada and joined the Ada High School Faculty and became assistant football coach and basketball coach. He was also a baseball coach from 1948 to 1951. He taught shop and Industrial Arts until 1959. He joined the East Central Faculty as Assistant Football Coach from 1959 to 1972. He was also Director of Intramural Athletics at East Central University from 1972 until his retirement in 1979.
Mr. Newton was awarded the Joe Milam Award in 1983 for Outstanding East Central Alumni Football Player. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame under the coaching category in 1997.
He married Mary Helen Winters October 10, 1981 in Ada. She preceded him in death April 17, 2014.
Mr. Newton is survived by step-daughters, Barbara Fischer and husband Gary, Denton, TX and Judy Fenton and husband Scott, Plano, TX; grandchildren, Matthew Fischer and wife Lauren, John Fischer and wife Julie, Jessica Acuff and husband William; Jason Fenton, Seth Fenton and wife Kelly; great-grandchildren, Caleb Fischer, Grant Fischer, Natalie Fischer, Reed Fischer and Miles Acuff and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Phalma Newton and Trudy Isbell; and brothers, Arlen, Milton, Merice and Floy Newton.
Pallbearers will be Gary Fischer, Matt Fischer, John Fischer, Seth Fenton, Jason Fenton, Michael Todd, Garrett Todd and Shawn Todd.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Ada First Baptist Church-Falls Creek Building Fund, 521 S. Broadway, Ada, OK 74820.
Criswell Funeral Home
