Tom Bachar Jr.

Tom Bachar Jr., resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at the Ponca City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 70. Tom was born the son of Thomas Leon Bachar and Ethel Ida Miller Bachar on January 18, 1938 in Celina, Ohio. He attended Celina High School, and then worked for his dad until he started working in the road construction industry. He was married in 1955 to Eleanor Anne Evans for 25 years. Tom later moved from Ohio to Oklahoma in 1979 where he continued to work in construction and then carpentry. On January 18, 1981, he married Donna Grimm at the First Baptist Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Tom was a NASCAR fan and his favorite drivers were Dale Earhart Sr. and Mark Martin. He loved hanging out with Jim Cooper, his best friend since the 1960s who he worked construction with and had as best man at his wedding. Tom enjoyed taking trips to Branson, Missouri and caring for his cat Yogi who was the one and only cat out of numerous stray cats he invited into his home and never let leave. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge. He is survived by his loving wife, Donna Bachar of Ponca City; children, Monty Dean Bachar of Woodridge, Virginia, Bret Lee Bachar and wife, Bonnie of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Alan Jay Bachar of Blackwell, Oklahoma, Teresa Cornelius and husband, Kenny, Susan Crank, Charles Lee Grimm Jr. and girlfriend, Jodi Frazier; grandchildren, Tiffanie Relene Berg, Bret Lee Bachar Jr., Josh Bachar, Abram Bachar, Leslie Johns, Kayla Bachar, Nicole Bachar, Tom Bachar, Katlin Cornelius, Spencer Aaron Crank, Louren Elizabeth Crank, Marc Grimm and Carli Grimm; great grandchildren, Ethan Allen Berg, Naomi Relene Berg, James Johns and Addison Johns ; nieces, Nina Spencer, Judy Spranger and Mary Jane; mother and father-in-law, Madison and Bettie Cannon of Florida; good friends, and Jim and Becky Cooper and Nellie Cochran. He is preceded in death by both parents; son, Tom Robert Bachar III; sister, Vera Stein; nephew, John Stein; son-in-law, Tim Crank; and his good friend, Dale Cochran. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 21, 2008 at Grace Memorial Chapel with Reverend Paul Krueger of Woodlands Christian Church officiating.