Bill Pelts

I.H. Bill Pelts, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed away Monday, November 26, 2012 at the Ponca City Medical Center. He was 81 years of age.

Bill was born June 25, 1931 in Oklahoma City, the son of Vernon Riggs and Anna Cloninger Riggs. He was a 1949 graduate of Red Rock High School, later earning his bachelors degree from UCLA.

Bill served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He flew 51 bombing missions while piloting the B27 Bomber. He also flew 27 sorties as pilot of the P51 Mustang. He flew around the world three times during his military service. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and numerous other military honors. He was honorably discharged after four years of service on September 10, 1953. He was married to Roxanne Gordon on April 3, 1985 in Pawhuska.

Bill worked for the City of Ponca City Light Department for several years and retired as a Line Foreman Supervisor. He was a member of the Ponca City Masonic Lodge 83 where he had served as Past Master and held all other offices throughout the years. He also was a member of the American Legion Post 14 and Past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star. His enjoyments were his children and grandchildren, and was known for his very big heart for children. He loved the outdoors, pheasant hunting and traveling, having travelled to all the 50 states. He loved visiting his ancestors home places in the hills of Arkansas. Bill loved visiting with others and would drink coffee with anyone at any time.

He is survived by his wife, Roxanne seven children, Mark Fisher and wife, Susan, of Ponca City, and their children, Jeff, Becky, Tommy and Leah Glen Pelts and wife, Dee, of Baytown, Texas, and their son, Landon Debbie Stafford and husband, Warren, of Blackwell, and daughter, Kalynn Brown and her son, Hunter Denise Crespo and husband, Richard, Forestburg, Texas, and their two children, Jimmy Cummings and wife, Naomi, their children, Cheyanne, Isaac, Gabby, Talynn, James and Bentley, and LeeAnna Crespo Woolley and husband, Tregan, and their daughter Brystal Cherise Musselman and daughters, Shayla Musselman and her daughter Raeleigh and Brianna Musselman Michelle Lunn of Ponca City and her children, Shelby Lunn and her son, Carson, and daughter Kenedy, Shannon Lunn and Codilyn Lunn Hugh Bubba Pelts and wife, Cindy of Burbank, and their children, Caitlin Holloway and son Trae and Chris Holloway. His grandchildren Bart Snyder and wife, Cheryl, and son Brandon Bret Snyder and wife, Nikki, and daughter Cheyenne Robyn Primeaux and husband, Chris, and children Cody and Becca and Scotty Fisher and wife, Tisha, and children Kaleanna, Hannah and Rickey. Bill was lovingly known to many other children outside the family as PaPa, Daddy and other names.

He is survived by two sisters, Rosalie Drew and husband, Bill, of Stillwater, and Martha Cain and husband, Norman, of Ponca City two brothers, Mike Riggs and wife, Hazel, and Don Riggs and wife, Ethel, all of Ponca City brothersinlaw Earny Gordon and wife, Diane, Rusty Gordon and wife, Dorita, and Tom Gordon and wife, Tammy one sisterinlaw, Brenda Gordon. Bill leaves behind numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents one son, Truman Bubby Fisher Jr. one daughter, Sharrel Jackson one brother, Vernon Riggs two sisters, Dovie Gildhouse and Marcella Henderson one infant brother, Harold Eugene Pelts one grandson, Colton Lunn one brotherinlaw, Dusty Gordon.

Visitation will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Grace Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2012 in the Worship Center of the First Baptist Church, Ponca City with Rev. Don Stanton, pastor of Faith Tabernacle presiding. Interment will follow in the Longwood Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Military honors and Masonic Rites will be conducted at the cemetery.

Casket bearers will be grandsons Jimmy Cummings, Tregan Woolley, Bart Snyder, Bret Snyder, Chris Holloway, Landon Pelts and Scotty Fisher. Honorary casket bearers will be granddaughters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Akdar Shrine, 2808 S. Sheridan Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74129 or to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 5601 Northwest 72nd Street, 124, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73132.