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Kenneth Alva Metcalf was born in Bokchito, Oklahoma, on November 25, 1936, to Alva (Chief) Metcalf and Betty Jane Oliver.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bokchito and was baptized in Sulphur Creek at the age of 16. He reaffirmed his faith and rededicated his life to Christ in June 2026 while in the hospital.
Kenneth attended school in Bokchito and was a member of the graduating class of 1955. He began working at the age of 16 during his high school years at Easter’s Texaco Station and also worked in sales for M.C. Easter. During the summers, he worked in the cotton fields and hauled hay and peanuts.
After high school, he married Velma Morton in 1956 and moved to Fort Worth, Texas. Together, they had three children. Over the years, he also lived in Durant, Shreveport, and Longmont, Colorado.
Throughout his career, Kenneth worked for BF Goodrich, Weaver Salads, Dean Foods, Potter Sausage, Jimmy Dean Foods, The Vaughn Group, and Acosta Food Sales. He traveled extensively for work, covering the western half of the United States as a Zone Manager for Jimmy Dean Foods and accumulating more than one million airline travel miles.
He won multiple sales contests, including one in 2000 that earned him a new Lexus. He loved his career and was very good at what he did. He retired in 2016 at the age of 80.
Kenneth spent some of his later years living in Bokchito, where he loved spending time at the Choctaw Casino. He later moved to Celina, Texas, to be closer to family.
He had an outgoing personality, a loud voice, and a contagious laugh. He was kind to everyone and deeply caring. He loved God, family, life, work, and politics.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Alva and Betty Metcalf; his brother, Richard; and his infant son, Kenneth.
He leaves behind his forever love and partner of 34 years, Debbie; children Vickie Giese of Fort Worth, Texas; Renee Wilson (Mark) of Decatur, Texas; Robert Metcalf (Terry) of Arlington, Texas; and stepdaughter Teresa Rogers (Cody) of Celina, Texas.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Erin (Derek), Kate (Todd), Daniel (Victoria), Russell (Alyssa) Reid, Kyle, Barrett, and Piper; and his seven great-grandchildren, Colby, Braden, Anna, Samuel, Maren, Mason, and Marianna.
He is survived by his brothers, Jerry and Bill; sister, Janie Burns; several nieces and nephews; and former classmates David, Evelyn, Carl, Glen, Viola, Sue, Don, and Rozell from the Class of 1955, whom he dearly loved.
Last, but certainly not least, he leaves behind his unforgettable buddy, Owen, otherwise known as “Bigfoot.”
Pallbearers are Barrett Rogers, Cody McCullough, Russell Metcalf, Reid Metcalf, Daniel Giese, and Derek Sutter.
Honorary pallbearers are Trent Perry Jr., Stephen Rogers, Mark Wilson, and Todd Crosswhite.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Bokchito, Oklahoma on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The family visitation will be prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 at the church. Interment will follow at Bokchito Cemetery, with Preston Burns officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma.