Stanley Vernon Huddleston, resident of Ponca City, and formerly of Tulsa, died Sunday evening, April 9, 2017, in his home after a short illness. He was 90.
Stanley was born to Charles William Huddleston and Emma Artie Jeffrey Huddleston on July 30, 1926, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He graduated from Sand Springs High School, where he played trumpet in the marching band, in 1944. He enlisted in the United States Navy soon after graduation when he was 17 years old. He was placed on active duty and transferred to Camp Peary, Williamsburg, Virginia. He was assigned duty aboard the USS Baham. Stanley was honorably discharged as a Yeoman 3rd Class in July of 1946. He then enrolled at Central State University and later transferred to the University of Tulsa. It was there he graduated in 1950 with a degree in business administration. He worked as a property tax supervisor for Skelly Oil Company, which later became Getty, and then Texaco. He retired on February 1, 1986. While working at Skelly, Stanley met Sue Green at the fifth floor Coke machine. Nine months later, on September 22, 1951, they married at Immanuel Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Together they had two children.
While in Tulsa, Stanley was a member of Parkview Baptist Church, Skelly Drive Baptist Church, and First Baptist Church. Most recently, he was a member of Northeast Baptist Church in Ponca City. As a young employee, Stanley was on his company's bowling team. He once scored a perfect game. He also enjoyed playing golf with men from work. Stanley bought his first boat when his kids were in junior high school. From then on, he had the enjoyment of searching for and finding good deals on boats. Over the years, he must have had at least 12-14 boats. He and the family loved to go to Ft. Gibson Lake, where later in life he and Sue had a lake cabin, and Keystone Lake to go water skiing and fishing. He also loved his dogs, most of which were terriers. He never trained any of them, but rather just spoiled each one rotten. Stanley and Sue moved to Ponca City in 2011 to be closer to family.
Stanley and Sue's first child, Steve, was born in 1956. Their daughter, Carol, was born in 1957. While the kids were growing up, Stanley taught them the value of money. He gave them allowances each week if they mowed the yard or dug out weeds from the flower beds. He loved shrubs and flowers and enjoyed keeping a well manicured yard. He instilled this in both of his children.
Stanley loved his family. Later in life, he was content to stay at home while Sue went traveling. He was thrilled when the grandchildren began arriving. He especially loved when they came out to the lake where he could take them skiing or fishing or riding 4-wheelers. Stanley recently became a great-grandfather to Ayden Stevenson, Holly Elizabeth O'Rear, and Caroline Rose O'Rear.
Stanley is survived by his son Steve Huddleston and wife Penny of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter Carol O'Rear and husband Charles of Ponca City; five grandchildren, Michael O'Rear and wife Elizabeth, Kyle O'Rear and wife Sarah, Katie Saucier and husband Beau, Clayton Huddleston and wife Kristen, and Claire Huddleston; three great-grandchildren, Ayden Stevenson, Holly O'Rear, and Caroline O'Rear.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Sue Carol Huddleston; his parents, Charles and Artie Huddleston; uncle, Jack Huddleston; and a sister, Geraldine Huddleston, who died in infancy.
The funeral service will be graveside at 2:00 p.m., at Memorial Park Cemetery, meeting first at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK, on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Reverend Deron Spoo will be officiating.
Pall bearers will be Steve Huddleston, Charles O'Rear, Michael O'Rear, Kyle O'Rear, Clayton Huddleston, and Beau Saucier.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma or the Ponca City Humane Society. Online condolences can be made at www.moorefuneral.com < http://www.moorefuneral.com >.