Obituary of Vernon Blondell Padgett

Vernon Blondell Padgett, age 84, passed away on August 16, 2016, in his home surrounded by his family at Edmond, Okla. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, August 19, 2016, in The Chapel at Griffin~Hillcrest. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Ardmore, Okla. Vernon was born on April 15, 1932, to Reuben Padgett and Lalla (Bishop) Padgett at Sturdevant, Wisconsin. He graduated from Beaufort High School at Beaufort, South Carolina. He attended the U.S. Armed Forces Institute. His passion was flying airplanes and would sneak on planes where he would learn how to fly during the Vietnam War. He was invested in flying and owned his own Piper Cherokee Six. Vernon attended McLish Avenue Church of Christ of Ardmore, Okla., as well as Deer Creek Church of Christ of Edmond, Okla. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1970, with twenty-two and a half years of service. He was ranked a Chief Warrant Officer Third Class. He served in Korea, Vietnam, Newfoundland, Greenland, Labrador, France, Hawaii, and the United States. Vernon received several medals including the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Medal, Korean Presidential Citation Medal, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with one Oakleaf Cluster, two Meritorious Unit Citations, Good Conduct Medal with Two Bronze Loops, and Expert Rifleman. He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Padgett, father, Reuben Padgett, mother, Lalla Padgett, two brothers, Clyde Padgett and Ralph Padgett, two sisters, Audrey Connley and Joyce Williams, two sons, Vernon E. Padgett, and Charles Tomlinson, and one daughter, Linda Harwell. Vernon is survived by three sons, Ben Tomlinson, Rodger Padgett, and William Padgett, two daughters, Theresa Wallace and Amy McCue, twenty-three grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Thursday evening, August 18, 2016, at Griffin~Hillcrest.