Greer Funeral Home
235 South Pennsylvania
Mangum, Oklahoma 73554
(580) 782-3323
fax (580) 782-3652
ELKINS
John Bates Elkins, age 63, of Mangum, passed away early Monday morning, July 23, 2012, at Integris Baptist Hospital, in Oklahoma City.
John was born in Mangum, Oklahoma on January 8, 1949, to Paul Noble and Thelma Mae (Bates) Elkins. A 1967 graduate of Mangum, John graduated with honors and began working on his degree from Oklahoma State University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering he spent one year in graduate work before he was recruited to work for Conoco. His first assignment took him to Ponca City, Oklahoma and later to Oklahoma City and then Glen Burnie, Maryland before moving back to Ponca City. Moving to California, he met his future wife, Donna Stevens, while she worked on one of his projects, and they were married June 29, 1985, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together they set up their first home in Ponca City and over the years, John’s job took them to Houston, Texas, Billings, Montana, Tyler, Texas and back to Ponca City where he retired on November 1, 1994. Moving to Mangum that same year, John took over his father’s farming and ranching operation which he supervised until his death. In his spare time, John enjoyed being on the farm or working on his old car collection.
Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his wife, Donna, of the home; one uncle, Dr. Brodace Elkins and wife Wynona of Lytle, Texas; four cousins, Carol Scivally and husband Jim of Mangum, Pamela Roudebush and husband Robert of Altus, Howard Elkins and wife Nancy of Lytle, Texas and Nonette O’Donnel of Galveston, Texas along with a host of friends.
Funeral services for John Elkins will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Greer Funeral Home Chapel with Wendell Harris officiating. A private family interment will follow.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com