CLAREMORE — Services for Billy Keith Quinton will be 3 p.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at Memorial Heights Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of Rice Funeral Service. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 1 to 7 p. m. this afternoon. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7p. m.
Billy entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on Nov. 22, 2012. He was born in Hanson, OK on June 5, 1935 to Lahoma (Dobbs) and Joe Quinton and was the eldest of six children.
After graduating from Central High School, Sallisaw, where he made lasting friendships, he and a friend joined the Air Force. Billy's desire to be a pilot was never realized, but he again made life-long friends. On February 21, 1955, he married Melba Twist in Sallisaw,OK. (This union was to endure for 57 years.) Their first home was in San Angelo, TX. She returned to the Catoosa area in l957 when Billy served a year in Korea. While in Korea, he received word from the Red Cross that their son, Keith had been born. He attended NSU after being discharged from the Air Force and graduated in 1961. The family moved to the Tulsa area and Bill began working for Standard Oil of Indiana. During this time, their daughter, Dawn, was born. When the oil company moved to Chicago, Bill refused to leave Oklahoma. His next employment was with Murray, Jones, Murray, an architect firm as its chief financial officer. This proved to be his favorite place of employment, and again, he made lasting friendships. Next, he worked for himself as a financial consultant in the field of architecture.
Billy enjoyed hunting any and everything. This resulted in his family spending many weekends in Claremore with Melba's parents, Foster and Auldon Twist, while he hunted. The family eventually moved to Claremore where their daughter, Misti made her appearance on April 18, 1963. Although still working in Tulsa, Billy became a coach of Little League baseball in Claremore, spending seventeen years as coach and commissioner, again making lasting friends.
He served on the Rogers County Excise board many years and always considered it a privilege. He held various positions at Meals-on-wheels which he took very seriously and was extremely faithful to fulfill his duties. One highlight of Billy's life was meeting and becoming friends with Denault, a famous artist with Sports Illustrated. Mr. Denault sent several numbered paintings to Billy after their shared hunting time in Canada.
Billy and his family are members of Memorial Heights Baptist Church where Billy served as an usher. He enjoyed his Sunday School class and tried never to miss as long as his health would allow him to attend.
Billy will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son-in-law, and brother. There was no greater joy than his family. He is survived by his loving wife, Melba, his son, Keith (Diana), his daughters, Dawn and Misti (Dennis) Scarbrough, grandchildren, Chris, James, Ginger (Benjamin) Holdredge, Gary Donn,and Alex and great grandchildren, Bryce and Ralyn and "grandchildren" Jasmine, Loren, Abby, Matthew, Tiffani and Cody. Also, surviving are his siblings Colleen (John) Tillery, Larry, Garry, Madonna (Dan) Mead, and Rebecca (Kenneth) Stout and many loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Alzheimers Association, 2248 E. 81st St., Ste. 3000, Tulsa, OK 74137.
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
