Owen Lytle

Owen Shelby Lytle – 93 Mr. Owen Shelby Lytle was born August 28, 1920 in Bixby, Oklahoma to parents Harvey Allen and Orpha Mae (Van Osdal) Lytle.  He attended school in St. Louis, Oklahoma and Ray City, Oklahoma.  He passed on to be with his Heavenly Father on May 3, 2014 at his home in Maud, Oklahoma; he was 93. Mr. Lytle was an exceptional man, true to his word, kind to all, always loving and supportive of his family and friends.  He loved this country and volunteered for service to the U.S. Army on January 9, 1942; serving her well during World War II as a staff sergeant in Normandy, Rhineland, Northern France Central Europe and Germany.  He felt honored to have received the Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, an EAME Theater Ribbon, WWII Victory Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, and a Silver Service Star. Owen worked 20 years for Halliburton as a Division Welder and later for the Santa Fe Railroad from 1972 to 1985 as a Track Inspector.  During these years he served his church as a choir director, a teacher, and as a member of the Financial Board in the Church of God in Abilene, Texas.  Moving back to this area, he lived many years in Maud, Oklahoma with his wife, Jean (Armstrong) Lytle.  They married on February 15, 1947 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and recently celebrated their 67th anniversary.  He raised two fine sons and was blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was known as Pepa, the best Pepa ever and as Uncle Owen. Owen’s service to others, his family, his friends, and even strangers gave his family much pride in the individual he was.  Always helping others in his love for his fellow man; one such incident was the Dripping Springs Cemetery.  As a forgotten and un-kept place with no name to mark the cemetery, no flag pole, and many unmarked graves, it saddened Owen to see something so meaningful in preserving our heritage being forgotten.  So he alone began to restore this much forgotten place.  Others joined and soon things in Dripping Springs Cemetery were set right because of one man’s special gifts of service and love.  Owen is survived by his wife, Jean, of the home; 2 sons and daughters-in-law, Danny Lytle and his wife Janell of La Port, Texas, Gary Lytle and his wife Karen of Healdton, Oklahoma; 3 brothers and sisters-in-law, Charlie Lytle and his wife Sue of Midland, Texas, Dewey Lytle and his wife Sharon of Beaumont, Texas and Vernon Lytle of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Naomi (Lytle) Jones and six brothers, Eldon Lytle, David Lytle, Roland Lytle, Lewis Lytle, Robert Lytle and Gerald Lytle. The family will receive family and friends at a special visitation, Wednesday, May 7, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014 at the Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma.  Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  Sid Freeman and William L. Sims will officiate at the services. Funeral Information: May 8, 2014, 2:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips, Seminole, OK 74868