Marvin Dean "Whitey" Thomason

Graveside services for Marvin Dean “Whitey” Thomason will be Friday, September 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM at the Highland Cemetery in Okemah. Marvin Dean “Whitey” Thomason was born May 17, 1932 in Wetumka, Oklahoma to John Thomason and Ruby (Cook) Thomason. Whitey was the youngest in his family of three brothers and three sisters. Whitey married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Rippetoe of Pharoah, Oklahoma on July 31, 1953. Just a few weeks ago, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Whitey served his country in the United States Army infantry from 1953 to 1955. He spent 16 months in Korea and for at least a portion of each day he was there; he performed the dangerous job of guarding the border between North and South Korea. Whitey and Virginia had three children: Susie Kosek and husband John of Noble, Deana Pendley and husband Kenny of Pharoah and Boyd Thomason of Pharoah. They also had 6 grandchildren: Matthew Berry of Norman, Jerrad Pendley and wife Ashley of Morris, Juli Pendley of Pharoah, Dawn Hills and husband Jonathan of Geuda Springs, Kansas, Bryan Kosek and wife Kerry of Noble and Raquel Keller and husband Evan of Fort Stewart, Georgia. In addition they also had 8 great-grandchildren. Whitey had several jobs during his lifetime but he was most proud of his service to his community as Okfuskee County Commissioner and as a dispatcher at the Okemah Police Department for 22 years. He loved horses and was an avid calf roper and team roper. He also bred and raised several race horses. He loved to watch his children play sports and was a basketball referee for many years. And last but not least; Whitey was a Christian who was saved and baptized as a teenager at the Allen Freewill Baptist Church in Weleetka. He passed away into heaven at the VA Hospital in Muskogee on September 6, 2013 at the age of 81. Honorary pallbearers will be: Johnnie Chambers, Eugene Cheatwood, Max Cline, Stanley Cowan, Wayne Long, Donnie Peters, Jim Rasmussen, Dennis Stuckey, Sr., Kurt Titsworth, Mark Trunk and Tim Williams. Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah and officiated by Pastor Roy Rogers.

Marvin Dean "Whitey" Thomason

May 17, 1932 - September 6, 2013