Rod C. Hastings

Rod C. Hastings passed away Monday August 11, 2014. He was born February 22, 1938 to Clarence Olin Hastings and Florence Oletha Dawson Hastings in Roscoe, TX. Rod grew up in Roscoe and graduated from Roscoe High School where he was a track, basketball and football star. He attended Hardin Simmons University in Abilene where he majored in chemistry. After graduation, he worked for scientific companies as a sales representative and regional sales manager and then was regional Vice President for Gannet Publishing. On May 22, 1971, Rod married Shirley Welch, in Duke, OK. Their busy careers moved them to Albuquerque, Denver, Oklahoma City, Guthrie and Stillwater, OK, Starkville, MS, and Knoxville. They had one child, William "Brent" Hastings, who suddenly died a few weeks before his first birthday on December 17, 1985. In time, Rod and Shirley turned the tremendous loss into a passion to anonymously provide a generous Christmas for needy children. Rod is preceded in death by his parents, his precious Brent and in-laws A.R. and Ardella Welch. He is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley; sister, Beth May (Jack) of Roscoe, TX; cousin, Maurice Hastings; a brother-in-law, Robert Welch (Becky) of Altus, OK; sisters-in-law, Linda Ablard (Gary) of Atlanta, GA, Brenda Yazel (Mark) of Grand Lake, OK, Peggy Fenderson (John) of Stillwater, OK; nephew, Travis Fenderson; nieces, Megan Yazel Janda, Monica Yazel Frieden, Amanda Fenderson Grove, Katrina Welch Hasty, Michelle Coe, Randy May and Gayla May Maher; as well as many great nephews and nieces. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, August 16, 2014 at the Russell Baptist Church with Rod Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Russell Cemetery under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 7:00 PM Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Russell Cemetery Fund, P. O. Box 313, Duke, OK 73532, or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.