Billy Albert O’Neal, of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was born April 9, 1934, in Katie, Oklahoma, to Albert Parker and Rena Bell O’Neal (Garrett) and passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at his home in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, at the age of 88 years. Bill grew up and attended school in Pauls Valley where he graduated in 1953. After graduation, he married the love of his life Ophelia O’Neal also in 1953, they were happily married for 68 years until her passing in September of 2021. After graduation, Billy enlisted in the United States Army where he then went overseas to Germany and served as a cook for a tour, after a few years he left the military to start a family. Billy had two sons, Billy Lynn O’Neal and Ricky Joe O’Neal whom both passed away at six months old in 1955 and 1956. Billy is also preceded in death by his “little best friend,” his daughter, Tina Nation.
Growing up, Billy was a country boy, born at home and all. He loved hunting and fishing even in his older years. He loved quail and pheasant hunting and even had bird dogs that he raised. Billy was a golfer; he spent a lot of time at the Sulphur golf course and then the Pauls Valley course once he moved to Pauls Valley. Billy and a few of his friends would get together every Monday night like clockwork and play poker and a variety of card games in Stratford. He loved that so much his granddaughter said, that Billy would drive by the house without stopping to say “Hi” but then say, “I’m going to play cards.”
Billy worked for Tyler’s furniture store for a few years, he was a bread delivery driver, and then eventually went to work for OG&E and retired in an Electrical Management position. Billy was a family man; he always played a big role in every family event that was going on. Billy used to call his grandson “my buddy” and that was special, because he was always like a father figure. The most important thing to Billy was no matter what happened that if his three grandchildren were happy, he was happy. Billy cherished his friendships; he was such a good friend and was always there when they needed him. He will be missed by many.
Billy is proceeded in death by his wife; children; his parents, Albert and Rena O’Neal; his brothers, R.L. O’Neal, Wendel O’Neal, and Glenn O’Neal.
Billy is survived by his brother, Gary O’Neal and wife, Karen, of Wynnewood, Oklahoma; sister, Jo Dean Smith and husband, Mel, of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Shannon Nation of Oklahoma City, Tyler Nation and wife, Jaci, of Pauls Valley and Kelly Nation of Oklahoma City; four great-grandchildren, Katelyn Musgrove of Rogers, Arkansas, Haylee Huckaby of Ada, Oklahoma, Kylie Huckaby of Rogers, Arkansas, and Haven Nation of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; and one great-great-grandchild, Sutton Taylor of Rogers, Arkansas.
Services will be held Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 10 a.m., at Trinity Baptist Church in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Condolences can be made to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes. com.
