Wilson E. Lonzo Cody, referred to as "Bill" or "Papa", age 77, of Ada, formerly of Mangum, returned home to his heavenly father on Friday, March 9, 2012.
On September 24, 1960, He married Donna Kathryn (Schulte) Cody and they spent the next fifty-one years together. Bill held his very first job when he entered the Air Force at age 17. He worked as an Air Craft Mechanic until he retired from the Air Force in 1978. Shortly after he went to work with Lockheed Martin in Saudi Arabia, Then he also worked as a police officer in Mangum for a few years, an Air Craft Mechanic for Eastern Airlines, then retired as the Police Chief in Sentinel, Oklahoma. In 1994 they packed up and moved to Allen, Oklahoma, where Bill managed the Dollar General Store in McAlester, Oklahoma.
One of 18 children, Bill was preceded in death by his parents; seventeen siblings; one son,Wilson E. Lonzo Cody; and his beloved wife, Donna. He is survived by four sons; Terry Cody of Mangum, Tim Cody and wife Michelle of Ada, Travis Cody of Mangum, Samuel Chapa and wife Jennifer of McKinney, Texas; and one daughter, Anna Holland and Tony Scott of Ada; twelve grandchildren, Michael Cody, Mindy Cody Neugebauer, Tyler Cody, Cassidy Conaway, Chad Conaway, Chelsea Holland, Jaret Holland, Jacob Holland, Laramie Sanders, Larry Sanders, J'Lynn Chapa, and Anjelica Soto; four great grandchildren, Haley Neugebauer, Ryse Neugebauer, Melanie Cody, and Marissa Cody along with many nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.
Graveside service for Wilson E. Lonzo Cody will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 15, 2012, at Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
