Obituary of Edward Cecil

Edward L. "Bill" Cecil, 83, was born October 20, 1925 in Willow, Oklahoma, and went home peacefully with his family by his side to be with his Lord and Savior on January 31, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Albina Cecil, his wife of 48 years Claudine Sneed Cecil, sisters Erma Jayne Randolph and Pauline Pierce and granddaughter Danielle Atlanta Lambert. He is survived by daughters Cathy Waller and husband Scott of Tulsa and Cheryl Lambert and husband Gary of Sand Springs, granddaughter Megan Elliott and husband Lance of Tulsa, grandsons Matt Waller and fiancé Ashley Shaw of Norman, Quinton, Cole and Clayton Lambert, all of Sand Springs, great-grandchildren Gage and Gracie Elliott, and special cousins Frank "Sonny" and Billy Richard Dudek, brothers-in-law Bill Randolph of Duncan and Bill Pierce of Houston, Texas, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Bill is also survived by friends he worked with at Texaco, Webster High School classmates and members from the Berryhill community, where he lived since 1936. Bill will be truly missed. Bill attended Berryhill Schools until his senior year. Being the only boy in a class of 9 students, he decided to move to Daniel Webster High School. He met Claudine, and they became high school sweethearts. They graduated from Webster in 1944, and they married July 19, 1946. Bill served in the United States Army during World War II. He was in the 9th Armed Division of the 3rd Army. Bill was one of the first tank drivers over the Bridge of Remagen, and he also fought at Battle of the Bulge. Bill was also a 32nd Mason. Bill retired from Texaco after 31 years of service. This enabled Bill to do what he loved most, which was to spend time with his family and friends. Bill and Claudine spent a lot of time at Fort Gibson Lake where he could fish and boat with his daughters and their friends and his grandkids. Bill was an avid fisherman and bird hunter. A hobby that he enjoyed late in life was golf. He also took pride in making his yard beautiful which included a wonderful garden. As long as Bill could be outside, he was happy. The Cecil family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Simon Levit and New Frontier Hospice for their dedication. There is no way we could have endured this journey without you. Irene and Betty, it is truly a calling what you do every day. Tree, Donna, Barbara, Vicky, Jamoria, Kimberly, Marie, support personnel, and countless others there are no words to describe our gratitude. Thank God for you all. Bill thought of you all as family and loved you all very much. There will be a visitation at Ninde Funeral Home at 39th and Peoria in Brookside Tuesday evening from 5 until 7. Services will be held at View Acres Baptist Church in Berryhill, Wednesday, February 4 at 2 pm with interment to follow at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow.