Newton Franklin "Buster" Drinnon

© Cheyenne Star

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Funeral services for Buster Drinnon were conducted Wednesday, January 13, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. from the Martin Funeral Chapel of Elk City with Dolan Ivey officiating. Burial was followed in the Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma under the of the Martin Funeral Home of Elk City.

Buster Drinnon was born July 20, 1922 at Treadway, Tennessee to H. B. Harvey Brownlow and Laura Ester Seals Drinnon and passed away Monday, January 11, 1999 at the age of 72.

Buster and 11 siblings moved with their parents from Tennessee to Oklahoma in 1928. In 1937, he returned to Tennessee on vacation with his mother and stayed for two years with his Uncle Tyler and Aunt Minnie. While there, Buster joined the Friendship Baptist Church in Treadway.

He returned to western Oklahoma where he attended Hammon, Kiowa and Chapel Hill Schools.

On September 18, 1940 he volunteered for one year in the National Guard and before the year ended his unit was mobilized into the Army, 45th Division with Headquarters Battery lst Battalion 158 Field Artillery. He received an honorable discharge on October 25, 1941.

Buster was married to Myrtle A. Hunter on November 4, 1941 at Rev. Ross's home.

On December 14, 1942, he was drafted back in the Army and served until October 27, 1945 serving in the Headquarters Battery 183rd Field Artillery and the 3rd Army in Europe. He was in four major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Croix de Guerre Division #332 Pro France Goverment, American Defense Service Ribbon and 4 Bronze Service Stars. He received his second honorable discharge on October 27, 1945.

He returned to Hammon where he and Myrtle raised their six children, Laura, Franklin, Bedford, Bobby, Belinda and Janice.

Buster worked as an independent and custom farmer and retired from farming in 1987. He was also the City Marshall of Hammon from 1952 until 1963.

He took great pride in his volunteer work at the Red Hill Cemetery which he began in 1950 and continued until his death. His volunteering didn't end with his work at the cemetery.

He spent hours delivering food from his home not just on the holidays but anytime someone was in need. His children can't remember a time when he couldn't manage to squeeze one more person at the table for a meal or one more bed on the floor.

Nothing made him happier than to have his nieces, nephews and grandchildren stay with he and his wife Myrtle in their home. He always left his door open for anyone that might stop by or need a place to live. Everyone knew there was never a bad time to stop by, Buster always welcomed them.

Buster enjoyed fishing alone or with others. He treasured the hours he spent fishing with his sons, grandsons and great grandsons especially the older ones since they were able to participate more.

Buster's other hobbies included playing dominoes and cards with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Bedford Lee; one brother, Oscar; and one sister, Flora.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Drinnon of the Elk City home; five children, Laura and Lloyd Copenbarger of Villa Park, California; Franklin and Peggy Drinnon of Elk City; Bobby and Gwen Drinnon of Sayre; Balinda and Barry Moskowitz of Norman; and Janice and Tom Conway of Cheyenne; seventeen grandchildren and twenty six great grandchildren; two brothers, Floyd Drinnon of Hammon and T.C. Drinnon of Pampa, Texas; and seven sisters, Eula Burton of Ceres, California; Willie Jones of Altus; Della Johnson of Dixon, California; Virginia Creach of Oklahoma City; Minnie Ruth Hillman of Burns, Oregon; Juanita Dixon of Elk City and Laura Alice Brannon of Whitesboro, Oklahoma; as well as several nieces, nephews and many friends.

The family requests memorial in Buster's name be made to the Perpetual Care Fund of the Red Hill Cemetery of Hammon.

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