OK Obits

© The Bakersfield Californian
13 November 2003
Submitted by: Sandi Carter

Thank You For Your Service!

Vollie Albert Lakin

December 19, 1918 ~ November 10, 2003

Vollie Albert Lakin, a decorated World War II veteran, died on November 10, 2003. A Memorial service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Friday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Brenda Davidson, Vollie's daughter, will officiate.

Vollie Lakin was born in Pocasset, Oklahoma, on December 19, 1918, to a successful farmer and his wife, James and Ada Lakin. After losing the family farm in the Great Depression, the Lakin family, with 18 year old Vollie, made their way west to California, settling in Bakersfield. Vollie married Nola, the love of his life, weeks before being shipped overseas to Normandy during World War II. A communications expert, Vollie was instrumental in crossing enemy lines and establishing communication lines for the allies. Vollie was nominated for the Bronze Star for extreme valor and courage under fire.

After the war, Vollie and Nola settled into married life and had a daughter, Brenda, and a son, David. He devoted the remainder of his life to his family and his church. Vollie's Christian faith guided his life. In 1950, Vollie began working for Greenfield Elementary School as a bus driver and custodian.

He later completed his certificates in Auto Electronics and Diesel Engineering and became the head mechanic for the Greenfield Union School District.

Vollie shared 54 years with his sweetheart, Nola, until her death in 1995.

He was lucky to experience love again with Lorraine Burchard, with whom he spent seven years until her death in 2002.

Vollie was preceded in death by his five sisters and two brothers, his wife, Nola and his second wife, Lorraine, and his beloved son, David. He is survived by his devoted daughter and her husband, Brenda and James Davidson; his daughter-in-law, Diane Lakin; his three grandchildren, Linda Lloyd, Steven Davidson, and Katherine Duron; his four great grandchildren, Nicole Lanier, Daniel Lloyd, Morgan Lloyd and Christopher Duron; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Vollie's memory is cherished by his children and grandchildren as being an extraordinary man living an ordinary life. Vollie's daughter remembers that he was the foundation for his family and his daughter-in-law recalls that he was always there for those who needed him. His grandchildren will miss the solid presence of their strong, loving Grandpa and the lives of his great grandchildren will be less full with the absence of Polly.

Donations may be made in his honor to Hospice of Bakersfield or the American Cancer Society. Vollie's personal request for no viewing is being honored.

|OK Obits|  |Oklahoma Cemeteries Home|

This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma Cemeteries

The information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.