William "Bill" Chronister

William E. “Bill” Chronister, 82, Altus, passed away on Friday, August 26, 2011 at the Plantation Village Nursing Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at the Kincannon Memorial Chapel with Rev. Boyd Whitehead officiating. Burial with Navy honors will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home. Bill Chronister was born to August and Effie (Yates) Chronister on September 15, 1928 in Paris, Arkansas. He married Ivy Geraldine White on November 14, 1950 at Reno, Nevada. She preceded him in death on February 4, 2010. Bill’s life was filled with service to others. He served his country in the US Navy from 1947 until 1968, when he retired. He was a fuel specialist while in the Navy and later became a civil service fireman for the US Government. He received numerous medals including the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal with five Bronze Star Service Devices, Navy China Service Medal, United Nations Korean Service Medal, World War II Navy Occupation Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Star Service Devices, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation with Navy Frame, as well as receiving his Naval Air Crew Wings. His career took him many miles from the farm of his youth, but he never forgot his roots. His life was happily completed by his wife, children, grandchildren and friends. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ivy, two brothers, George and Leroy Chronister, and a sister, Margaret Loftin. Survivors include two daughters, DeAnna Hawkey and husband, Darrin, of Altus, OK, and Christine Rideout of Florida; two sons, William E. “Bill” Chronister, II and wife, Marsha, of Greenville, CA, and Robert B. “Rob” Chronister of Altus, OK; two sisters, Vera Kinman of Texas and Lahoma Jones; five grandchildren, Cody and Nicolas Hawkey, Samantha Gustin and husband, Chris, Niome Lorah and husband, Josh, and Alexandra Rideout; and five great-grandchildren. The Chronister family will host a visitation from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Monday, August 29, 2011 at the funeral home.