Service Friday for John M. Allford, Jr.

John M. Allford Jr. passed away peacefully on March 2, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma at age 97. Known as Jim to his friends and family, he was the youngest of eight children born to Bud and Effie Mae Allford in Indianola, Oklahoma.

Jim was the epitome of the Greatest Generation. He grew up on a farm during the Great Depression and volunteered for the Army Air Corp in WWII. He was called back briefly for the Korean War. After his military service, he followed in his brother’s footsteps and bought a service station in McAlester, Oklahoma, which became the starting point for a lifelong career.

It was also in McAlester where he met the love of his life, June Atwell. They married May 22, 1949 and raised two children, John (III) and Suzanne. In 1957, Jim, June, John and Suzanne moved to Holdenville, Oklahoma. Holdenville became their home for over 60 years. Jim built a very successful wholesale and retail oil and gasoline business. He did it the ‘old fashion way’ through great customer service, fair prices, honesty, and most of all, hard work.

Jim became quite a gardener later in life. At one point he had three large vegetable gardens and could have opened his own produce stand. Instead, he gave most of it away. He and June maintained a beautiful lawn wherever they lived. They especially enjoyed decorating the house for all the holidays. He loved ice cream and anything that June cooked. He always slept will because he lived well.

His patriotism never wavered throughout his lifetime. He volunteered to post flags downtown and throughout the cemetery until he was physically unable to do so. Even then, he often went along for the ride to supervise! He was a member of American Legion Post 32 for over 69 years and served as an American Legion representative for events and funerals. He was a proud participant in the Oklahoma Honor Flight. He spoke of it often.

Jim was also a 32 ^nd degree Mason and a member of Masonic Lodge #96 in McAlester, Oklahoma, for 59 years. He and June were members of First Presbyterian Church in Wewoka.

Most of all, Jim was a committed husband; a supportive father; a doting grandfather; and a marshmallow of a great grandfather. In fact, he was known to take his oldest great grandson, Hayes, for a ride on his John Deere riding lawn mower just for the fun of it!

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his sibling, and more recently by his wife of 70 years, June. He is survived by his son, John and wife Nancy; his daughter, Suzanne and husband, Dick Wade; his granddaughter Ashley and husband Tim Bragg; his four great grandchildren Scout, Hayes Archer and Ford Bragg; his brother in law, Don Atwell; as well as several nieces and nephews and their children.

At his request, graveside services will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at the Holdenville Cemetery.

The family request any donations wishing to be made in his honor could be made to the American Legion Thomas-Breeding-Buckley Post 32, P.O. Box 411, Holdenville, Oklahoma 74848. He loved the Flag program, scholarship programs and Girl/Boys State.

Services are under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home Holdenville, Oklahoma.