Obituary for John Lanham
Ponca City Now - July 8, 2024 10:37 am
John Gordon Lanham
March 18, 1944 – June 29, 2024
On Saturday evening, June 29, 2024, John Gordon Lanham, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully at the age of 80. Arrangements have been entrusted to Trout Funeral Home and Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.
He is survived by: his wife of 55 years, Paula; his son, John David Lanham and wife, Jennifer, of Lenexa, KS, and their children, Spencer Patrick Lanham, and Sydney Grace Lanham; his daughter, Diana Marie Winton of Edmond, OK, and her son, Ellis Princeton Winton IV; his daughter, Cynthia Renee Elkins and husband, John Wesley Elkins, III, of Midwest City, OK, and their children, John Wesley Elkins, IV, and Lily Claire Elkins; and their son, Jeffrey Paul Lanham and wife, Michelle, of Tonkawa, OK, and their children, Clayton Paul Lopeman, and Carter Nile Lopeman.
John Gordon Lanham was born March 18, 1944 to John Ferguson Lanham and Jacqueline Gordon Lanham in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from Robert A. Millikan High School in 1962, in Long Beach, CA, graduated from Long Beach City College in 1966, and California State College at Long Beach in 1968. He married the love of his life, Paula Jayne Carr on September 21, 1968, by Rev. Thomas Ryan at the St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church in Long Beach, CA. To this union, they had four children: John David, Diana Marie, Cynthia Renee, and Jeffrey Paul.
He worked as a project engineer for Smith Tool International Manufacturer of rock bits for drilling in Compton and Irvine, CA from 1971 – 1989. From 1989 – 2009, he worked as a Facilities Engineer for Smith Tool International – Ponca City, Safety and Environmental Supervisor for Smith Tool International – Ponca City, and as an Advisor for Ponca City Emergency Management.
John enjoyed camping, spending time with family, and was a great example of what it meant to be a great and wonderful father. He really knew what it meant to put family first. He loved to tinker with any and all electronic devices and this was a great passion of his. He had a curious and inventive mind where he would enhance or modify any electrical device he could find.
A rosary service will be held at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Trout Funeral Home, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 11, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 408 S. 8th Street, Ponca City, OK, 74601. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1206 S. Waverly, Ponca City, OK 74601
Donations in honor of John Gordon Lanham may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Source: Trout Funeral Home