Obituary for Ervin O. Petzold
Ervin Petzold, life long resident of Altus, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2017, at the age of 101 years and 9 months. Ervin was born March 16, 1916, 5 1/2 miles north of Altus, where he lived his entire life. He was the son of Herman and Mathilda (Tempel) Petzold and was the third to the youngest of 13 children and outlived them all by many years.
Although Ervin was born, raised and has lived on the same property all his life, his parents were German immigrants. One of his stories is about how his parents insisted he speak German at home as a child.
He farmed in Jackson County with his dad with horses and mules until changing over to tractors. They also wheat pastured 500 to 600 head of yearlings each year. They had 100 head of bred Charolais cows that they raised.
Ervin and his dad Herman, also butchered cattle and swine for this area. They first traveled in a horse drawn wagon selling their custom made beef, sausage and ham.
Ervin married Lillie Bennett in December 1936 in the Lutheran Church at Granite. Later he became an elder in the church. They drove 20 miles one way, crossing the one lane Elm Fork Red River wooden bridge, just to get there. Ervin and Lillie were married for 66 years.
Ervin and his sons were the first farmers to begin using Treflan in this area. They ran two tractors 24 hours a day plowing this in for area farmers. They also did custom hay baling, plowing and cutting of grain which includes wheat, oats, alfalfa, and mung beans.
Ervin and Lillie had six children: Harvey, David, Jerry, Brenda, Alan, and Debra. From oldest to youngest there was a 22 year difference in the children.
Aside from farming and ranching, Erivin has served his community in the area for years. He has served in the Friendship and Navajo School Board, Martha Gin Board, and has been active in the Lutheran Church.
After being a member and President of the Friendship School Board for many years, the school burned. He then joined the Friendship-Warrren Consolidation Board that formed the consolidated school of Navajo. Ervin was President and member of the Navajo School Board for many years.
Aside from his board involvement, he was also active in helping with 4-H and FFA which his children were involved in. He received the FFA Vocational Honorary Chapter Farmer award.
Ervin and his wife Lillie were also class parents at Navajo and Friendship Schools for many years as well as being involved in other school activities.
Ervin was proceeded in death by his wife Lillie, son-in-law Lonnie Allen, and their oldest son Harvey. Ervin is survived by 5 children and their spouses, David and Brenda Petzold of Altus, Jerry and Alice Petzold of Edmond, Brenda Allen of Elk City, Alan Petzold of Glen Rose TX, and Debra Mardis of Altus. He has 15 Grandchildren, Corwin Petzold, Carrie Thorton, Cheri Kay, Amber Hixon, Dusty Petzold, Talyan Petzold, Tacara Mardis, Mitzi Habben, Angie Allen/Morrow, Ty Allen, Tara Allen, Clint Petzold, Kendall Henry, Kacy Potter and Carson Mardis. He had 29 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Ervin had a special caregiver and friend Mary Briggs. She was with him for 15 1/2 years.
Viewing will be 6-8 Monday, November 27, 2017 at Lowell- Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Altus or Navajo schools.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Lowell -Tims Funeral Home Chapel in Altus, Oklahoma with Pastor B.J. Armstrong officiating. Interment will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
11/27/2017
6:00 PM
8:00 PM
Viewing
Lowell-Tims Chapel
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus
OK
73521
11/28/2017
2:00 PM
Funeral
Lowell-Tims Chapel
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus
OK
73521
Read More
Although Ervin was born, raised and has lived on the same property all his life, his parents were German immigrants. One of his stories is about how his parents insisted he speak German at home as a child.
He farmed in Jackson County with his dad with horses and mules until changing over to tractors. They also wheat pastured 500 to 600 head of yearlings each year. They had 100 head of bred Charolais cows that they raised.
Ervin and his dad Herman, also butchered cattle and swine for this area. They first traveled in a horse drawn wagon selling their custom made beef, sausage and ham.
Ervin married Lillie Bennett in December 1936 in the Lutheran Church at Granite. Later he became an elder in the church. They drove 20 miles one way, crossing the one lane Elm Fork Red River wooden bridge, just to get there. Ervin and Lillie were married for 66 years.
Ervin and his sons were the first farmers to begin using Treflan in this area. They ran two tractors 24 hours a day plowing this in for area farmers. They also did custom hay baling, plowing and cutting of grain which includes wheat, oats, alfalfa, and mung beans.
Ervin and Lillie had six children: Harvey, David, Jerry, Brenda, Alan, and Debra. From oldest to youngest there was a 22 year difference in the children.
Aside from farming and ranching, Erivin has served his community in the area for years. He has served in the Friendship and Navajo School Board, Martha Gin Board, and has been active in the Lutheran Church.
After being a member and President of the Friendship School Board for many years, the school burned. He then joined the Friendship-Warrren Consolidation Board that formed the consolidated school of Navajo. Ervin was President and member of the Navajo School Board for many years.
Aside from his board involvement, he was also active in helping with 4-H and FFA which his children were involved in. He received the FFA Vocational Honorary Chapter Farmer award.
Ervin and his wife Lillie were also class parents at Navajo and Friendship Schools for many years as well as being involved in other school activities.
Ervin was proceeded in death by his wife Lillie, son-in-law Lonnie Allen, and their oldest son Harvey. Ervin is survived by 5 children and their spouses, David and Brenda Petzold of Altus, Jerry and Alice Petzold of Edmond, Brenda Allen of Elk City, Alan Petzold of Glen Rose TX, and Debra Mardis of Altus. He has 15 Grandchildren, Corwin Petzold, Carrie Thorton, Cheri Kay, Amber Hixon, Dusty Petzold, Talyan Petzold, Tacara Mardis, Mitzi Habben, Angie Allen/Morrow, Ty Allen, Tara Allen, Clint Petzold, Kendall Henry, Kacy Potter and Carson Mardis. He had 29 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Ervin had a special caregiver and friend Mary Briggs. She was with him for 15 1/2 years.
Viewing will be 6-8 Monday, November 27, 2017 at Lowell- Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Altus or Navajo schools.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Lowell -Tims Funeral Home Chapel in Altus, Oklahoma with Pastor B.J. Armstrong officiating. Interment will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
11/27/2017
6:00 PM
8:00 PM
Viewing
Lowell-Tims Chapel
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus
OK
73521
11/28/2017
2:00 PM
Funeral
Lowell-Tims Chapel
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus
OK
73521
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