Ronda Hope “Hopie” (Welcher) Begley was born April 27, 1944, to Lynn and Irene (Bost) Welcher in Elmore City, Oklahoma, where she grew up. She went to be with her Lord on June 5, 2023, in Lawton, Oklahoma, at the age of 79 years. After graduating from Elmore City High School in 1963, she went to work on the line making light bulbs at Glow Light in Pauls Valley. After the plant was closed, she went to work as a janitor at Vo-Tech in Wayne, Oklahoma. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was saved at an early age at Satterwhite Missionary Baptist Church. She later became a member of First Baptist Church of Elmore City. She married Wayne Begley on May 24, 1998, in Elmore City. They were married and lived in Lawton for 25 years. She worked as a janitor at Southwestern Hospital and then at MacArthur High School where she stayed until her retirement. Upon moving to Lawton, Ronda and Wayne attended Salem Missionary Baptist Church. After a time, they then joined Cameron Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member at the time of her passing.
She enjoyed reading her Bible, shopping, doing word searches, and watching square dancing at the Community Life Center. She especially enjoyed spending time with her husband Wayne. They particularly liked watching cars go by and looking at animals in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Wendell Paul Welcher, Lynn Roy Welcher, and Stevie Welcher; one sister, Sandra Kay Nation; two brothers-in-law, Skeeze Tillery and Don Colwell; twin nephews; nephew, Chris Welcher; nieces, Regina Welcher and Lorri Veazey; and in-laws, John and Beulah Begley.
She is survived by her husband, Wayne, of the home; four sisters, Jeanetta Tillery of Elmore City, Lura Beth and Jim Veazey of Harrah, Oklahoma, Glenda Colwell of Lawton, Jacklyn and Johnny Harman of Elmore CIty; two brothers, Tommy and Virginia Welcher of Ada, Oklahoma and Clinton and Cathy Welcher of Ada; two sisters-in-law, Bonnie Welcher of Katie, Oklahoma, Margaret and Dave Milhallen of Maryland; eight nephews; six nieces; several great-nephews and great-nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held Friday, June 9, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at Cameron Baptist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma. Bro. Mike Teel will be officiating.
Cremation services were under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.
