Bill Villines

Bill Villines 80, was ushered into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at his ranch east of Checotah, Ok after a tragic farm accident.

Billy "Buddy" Kennith Villines was born to Ed Villines and Effie Mae Humphrey Villines on May 28, 1941, in their rural home east of Checotah, OK. He attended elementary school at Central High, east of Checotah, then transferred to Checotah High School where he graduated with the class of 1961. After attending Connors College for one semester, and working on the Eufaula Dam, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force. In 1965 he dove twenty-seven feet to the bottom of the Arkansas River to rescue a young man who was drowning. He saved the young man while almost losing his own life. For this act of heroism, he was awarded The United States Air Force Airman’s Medal.

Bill proudly served his country as a member of the United States Air Force for four years and was honorably discharged in 1967. He then joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and graduated with the twenty-second academy. He was awarded Trooper of the Year for Heroism in 1971 after winning a gunfight after pulling over a man who had killed two Dallas policemen the day before. Bill was named Officer of the Year in the surrounding 5 state region the same year for putting an end to the murderer's run. During his service to the Patrol, Bill earned a degree from Northwestern State University in Alva in Criminal Justice. He also earned his private pilots license in 1970 and flew for the patrol. Bill loved flying and owned several airplanes, and was especially proud of mentoring his grandson Miles who is a commercial pilot. Bill attained the rank of lieutenant and retired as Troop K Oklahoma Highway Patrol District Supervisor in 1991.

Bill married Lynne Ann Evatt on June 16, 1977 in Chandler, Oklahoma, and was subsequently married for almost forty-five years. After Bill's retirement from the Highway Patrol he owned a used car dealership in Stillwater where he made many life-long friends over the ten years he was in business. He was also a diehard OSU Cowboys fan having done security for the university. He befriended many talented coaches and players over the years and proudly displayed his love of the "Orange and Black" at every opportunity. Bill was asked by the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 2002 to come back to work in law enforcement, and he worked for them for another ten years before retiring again in 2014 to work full time on his Circle V Ranch east of Checotah. Bill was one of seven board members of the Rural Water District #5 in Checotah until his death.

Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church in Checotah for several years serving as usher on Sunday mornings and attending Ralph Davidson's Sunday School Class. Bill had a heart of gold under his "rough around the edges" exterior. He was known to donate time and money to causes others may have deemed unworthy, but when a need arose in the community, he was always there. He loved and protected his family fiercely especially his wife Ann.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Effie Villines, infant son Jonathan, brothers Coy, Jay, Burl, Merle, and sister Lois. He is survived by his wife Ann, daughters Jami (David) Turner, Tina (Ross) Keener, Lynne Cunningham, Erynne (Tom) Oblak, son Randal (Miranda) Villines and sister Deloris McCauley. He is also survived by grandsons Miles Turner, Evatt and Eyan Holmstrom, Jack Frame, Christian Keener, Samuel Thompson and Rylan Villines and granddaughters Alexandra (Houston) Golden, Emily (Brandon) Callendar, Chevy Bullington, Alynne Holmstrom, Macy Keener and Madilynne Villines and several great grandchildren. 

Pallbearers are Randal Villines, Miles Turner, Roy Duvall, Bill Duvall, David Turner, Aaron Miller, Curtis Blocker and Thomas Oblak. Honorary Pallbearers are Jeff Gazaway, Gene Lockwood, Boyd Walker, Charley Lawson and all members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. 

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 17th, 2022 at the Hunn Funeral Home and Cremation Service chapel.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Bill's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 18th, 2022 at the Checotah First Baptist Church, 210 SW 2nd St., Checotah, Oklahoma.  The internment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Checotah under the direction of Hunn Funeral Home and The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Honor Guard.

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