Rodney Laduane Worthen

Rodney L. Worthen

Funeral for Dr. Rodney L. Worthen, 85, Lawton, will be at 12:30 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with William F. Watkins and Carl Hogue officiating.

Dr. Worthen died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, in a local care center.

Burial with Navy honors will be in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, under direction of Becker Funeral Home.

He was born Oct. 4, 1923, in Vinson, to Alva I. and Kathleen Wooldridge Worthen. He was a 1941 graduate of Lawton High School and attended the University of Oklahoma until he entered the U.S. Navy on Aug.13, 1943. He served as a pharmacist's mate third class during World War II and was discharged on April 27, 1946. His awards include the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He married Fannie Lou Holderman on Nov. 29, 1946, in Lawton. He earned his degree in dentistry from Baylor Dental College in 1950 and began his dental practice in Lawton in 1951. He retired in the late 1980s. He had been a member of First Baptist Church since 1946, where he served as a deacon, taught Sunday school, and was a longtime choir member. He had been a member of Northwest Kiwanis Club and Lawton Rotary Club and served as a board member for Mexican Mission Ministries.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law: Dr. Rodney L. Worthen II and Rhonda, Enid; and Rande and Janet Worthen, Lawton; 11 grandchildren: Kristen, Philip, Jenna, Kara, Brandon, James, Rodney III, Brian, Michael, Shaun and Rachel; a sister, Sue Powell, Plano, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Dr. French L. Worthen.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1409, Lawton 73502.

http://www.beckerfuneral.com/sitemaker/sites/becker0/obit.cgi?user=...

Burial:

Fort Sill National Cemetery

Elgin

Comanche County

Oklahoma, USA

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34265529