Obituary for Wilfred “Willie” Waggoner

Wilfred Waggoner

August 4, 1930 – December 3, 2022

Wilfred (Willie) Waggoner, 92-year-old local farmer left his loving family and this world on December 3, 2022 after a battle with kidney cancer and other various health issues. Born 8/4/1930 as a twin and the 6th or 7th child of Chester and Ella Mae McIntyre Waggoner on the family farm 3 miles east and ½ south of Billings, OK. Born and raised during the great depression and the dust bowl of the 1930’s the family stayed strong and proud during these very difficult times.

He worked alongside family on the farm and then his brother Max, who owned a team of horses worked for the Stehno family for many years putting up the crops.

Willie attended Happy Star School 4 miles east of Billings through 8th grade and then graduated from Billings High School in May of 1948. He excelled in basketball and baseball and received a scholarship to Oklahoma City University to play basketball. He was a member of Billings FFA where he showed south down sheep. In later years he was awarded the Billings FFA Honorary Farmer Degree for his work and contributions to the local chapter.

In 1947 he enlisted in the 45th Infantry Thunderbirds 179th Battalion, Company I, in Perry during his Jr year of high school and fibbed about his age to complete the enlistment process. He was a reservist until September 1, 1950 when he was called to active duty. Thirteen young men from Billings were called to duty at this time including Wilfred’s brother Max. Basic training was in Fork Polk, LA and he was then sent to Fort Chaffee, AR for leadership training. The boys shipped out of Louisiana and traveled through the Panama Canal to Korea a trip that lasted 31 days. He was awarded the Bronze Star w/Valor for carrying the dead and injured during a mission that left his troops under fire in a mine field that left 2 dead and three injured. In 1953 he was honorably discharged as Sergeant First Class – E7. This band of brothers formed an alliance that carried them through their entire lives. They held Company I reunions in Perry for many years so they could reconnect and remember all they had been through. Willie loved and looked forward to this reunion every year and enjoyed his own family attending. He was so proud of his service to his country and was a true patriot to the end.

He married Shirley Kay Brown on June 24, 1953 and to this marriage were born two children, Lee and Kay who were both born while living on the family farm. He owned and operated Willie’s Welding in Billings and then worked for Williams Inc. and Maason’s Bit both in Tonkawa where he made and delivered bits all over the southcentral part of the US. He then owned and operated Willie’s Liquor from 1983 until 2018. For 72 years he was a wheat farmer and supported his family by becoming a skilled carpenter under the mentorship of Freeman Combrink. He and Zane Clavin became a team and built and remodeled many homes, cabinetry and barns in our area. Willie was on the Billings Volunteer Fire department for 23 years and served as Chief for the better part of those years and retired in 1989.

Willie married Vicki Pittman Grubbs at the Billings Christian Church on July 27, 1983 and to this marriage came Vicki’s son, Scott Grubbs. They were married for 39 years and enjoyed traveling early on.

He loved watching reruns of MASH, Friends, Tim Conway and any western. In earlier years he enjoyed dancing the jitterbug, bowling and sports. He was a staunch supporter of the Billings Bulldogs and enjoyed watching and following his children and grandchildren participate in all their activities. He was involved in community planning committees to revitalize the community he was proud to be a part of.

Survivors include: his son, Lee Waggoner, Billings; daughter, Kay Waggoner Ranney (Scott), Billings; step-son, Scott Grubbs (Stacy), Portales, NM; grandchildren, Doug Ranney, Billings, Chelsea Kay Ranney McCleave (Michael), Wyatt K Waggoner (Devyn), Tonkawa, McKenna Kayt Waggoner, Billings; step-grandchildren, Erett Grubbs, Green Bay, WI, Ethan Grubbs, Perry, Kaitlyn Grubbs, Syracuse, NY; great grandchildren, Madycen, Rylee and Kamden Ranney, Wichita, Ks and Darien, Skylan and Addilynn McCleave, all of Enid; one brother, JD Waggoner, Billings; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Ella Waggoner; his twin, Winifred; brothers and their wives, Charles Ray (Elva), Max Allen (Joann) and Richard Lee (Lois Ann); sisters and their husbands, Bobbye Jean LaRochele, (Larry), Mary Ruth Fulmer, (Jack) and DonAne Bellmon, (Hugh); and sister-in-law, Shirley C. Waggoner.

Donations can be made to the Billings Union Cemetery or donor’s choice. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Source: Trout Funeral Home