Okla Elmer Edgell “Okey” passed away peacefully on Oct. 22, 2023, with his wife Arlene holding his hand. He is the son of the late Ray and Lucy Cain Edgell. He was born in Worthington, on Oct. 25, 1925, and was looking forward to his 98th birthday.
Okey was a graduate of Monongah High School, Class of 1944. He entered the Army Air Corps in September 1943. He served with the 446th Bomb Group in the European Theater. This group was chosen by Eisenhower to lead the bombers into Normandy on D-Day. He was a tail gunner on a B24 Bomber and his plane was shot down by the Germans over Barendrecht, Holland in 1945. He was held in the Aalsmeer POW Camp until liberated on V-Day 1945. He was the last surviving member of his crew. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the American Theater Medal, the Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Air Medal.
Okey graduated from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago and worked as a foreman for West Virginia Electric in Fairmont for 10 years. He then moved out West, where he retired from Bonnieville Power in the state of Washington. He spent his retirement years in both Washington and Arizona and finally settled in his home state of West Virginia.
Preceding him in death are his first wife, Patricia Saurborn Edgell, and his second wife, Virginia Allison Hampton Edgell. Also preceding him in death were his two brothers, James Edgell and Doak Edgell; his two sisters, Lillieray Hall, and Janette Lane; three nephews, Steven Edgell, Ralph Hall, and Gary Edgell; a sister-in-law, Jean Edgell; and a brother-in-law, Ralph Hall, Sr.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene Marteney Decker Edgell; two daughters, Lois Edgell (Dennis), and Cynthia Verno; a stepdaughter, Susan Brown; three stepsons, David Hampton (Lessa), William Decker (Angela), and James Decker (Karen); four grandchildren, Shawn Hugus, Keri Rutherford, Jaime Backman, and Amber Berkovich; seven step-grandchildren, Chris Decker (Stephanie), Brittany Paige (Charles), Jon Decker, Courtney Sites (Brian), Patrick Brown (Val), Haley Decker, and Aaron Decker; ten great grandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Okey was a member of the Bridgeport United Methodist Church, Barbed-Wire Mountaineer #1 EX-Prisoners of War, West Virginia EX-Prisoners of War, and a Life Member of the National EX-Prisoners of War. He was a life member of the Taylor County ARSE and the West Virginia ARSE. He was a member of the Anmoore Chapter CEOS, the Harrison County CEOS, and the West Virginia CEOS. He was a life member of the DAV and a life member of the Senior Softball Associating. He was a member of the IBEW and a member of Chapter 724, Order of Purple Hearts. He served as a State Commander of the West Virginia EX-POWs.
He played softball on the Senior Softball League in Sun City, Ariz., and the National Tournament Team. He holds two World Series Rings and six World Championships.
He married his wife, Arlene in 2006. Together, they have toured all 50 states and twelve foreign countries. They took three ocean cruises and one riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River. He learned to quilt and sew during this marriage and left a legacy of his work for his family and Arlene’s family. He also learned basketry and made baskets for his children. He and Arlene made a permanent move to Fairmont after their marriage.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Permanent Fund of Bridgeport United Methodist Church, 251 Worthington Drive, Bridgeport, WV 6330 or to your local cancer society.
The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 2-8 p.m. The funeral will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the West Virginia National Cemetery.
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