Rachel Denton

Rachel Delores Denton, 77, of Ponca City, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2011.
Rachel was the youngest of ten children being born on June 20th, 1934 to Wilburn and Maude Lee Bryant Miller in Pampa, Texas. Six weeks after her birth, the family moved to Yoakum, Texas. Rachel graduated from Yoakum High School in May of 1952.
Rachel worked at Yoakum National Bank until she married Jim Denton on April 7th, 1957. They lived in southern Texas and New Mexico while Jim worked with a Continental Oil Company seismograph field crew. They moved to Ponca City in December of 1957. They had three sons Jim, Jeff and Jerald.
After retirement in 1985, Rachel and Jim moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas. During that time they traveled throughout the country in their motor home. Jim passed away on February 7th, 1993 and Rachel returned back to Ponca City in 1994.
In Ponca City, Rachel was employed by the Kay County Health Dept. and Ponca Area Council of Camp Fire. She was the founder and first manager of the Caboose Thrift Shoppe. She was also a part of the beginning of the Opportunity Center and served as the volunteer music teacher for 20 years. After her return to Ponca City, she served as a tour guide for the Marland Mansion for many years.
Her love and passion for children with special needs, led her in being involved with the Kay County Council for Retarded Citizens, The Oklahoma Association for Retarded Citizens, the ParentGuardian Association of Enid State School and served as the Ponca City Chairman for The March of Dimes for three years. Rachel also served as President of the Ponca City Garden Club Council and of the North Central District of Garden Clubs. She was also active in the Christian Womens Club.
She loved her church, Ponca City 1st Assembly of God Church, where she was very involved in Christian Education and Music. She also taught on Sunday in the local nursing homes for over 25 years.
Most of all, Rachel loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchild. They were her life. Up until her final months, she never missed an activity of performance, no matter how hard it was for her to get there. It was very important that she support them in all their endeavors.
As you look around Ponca City, you will see the simple, loving fingerprints of a lady who loved her town, church, friends and family. Her legacy will live on for a long time.
In 1997, Rachel married Johnnie Radcliff, who passed away on January 1, 2011. Johnnie had three daughters and their husbands Jan and Dave Bowker of Arkansas City, Kansas, Tammy and Bruce Arterbury of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Becky and David Waggoner of Arkansas City, Kansas. Their children are Troy Rankin, Andrea Arterbury, Garrett Waggoner and Laura Waggoner.


Rachel was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim, husband Johnnie and Jerald, her son. She is survived by two sons and their wives Jim and Cathie Denton of Edmond, OK and Jeff and Camille Denton of Ponca City. Her grandchildren Abigail and Adam Bruce of Edmond, Jordan and Lauren Denton of Stillwater, Madison Denton of Stillwater and one great grandson Jude Denton of Stillwater. Twenty nieces and nephews, and over 55 great nieces and great nephews and their families.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601 or 1st Assembly of God Building Fund, 1308 E. Bradley, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Visitation will be 49 p.m., Monday, October 10, 2011 and Tuesday, 8 am till 12 pm at Grace Memorial Chapel. Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at the 1st Assembly of God Church with Rev. Micah Wells, officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel of Ponca City, Oklahoma.