Arlice Henry Rankin

Funeral service for Arlice Henry Rankin will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Claremore. Pastor Sam Nichols will officiate. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Air Force will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of the Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service and Crematory. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Tues. 1-8 p.m.

Arlice H. Rankin passed away Friday, February 10, 2012 in Claremore at the age of 86.

The son of Bud H. and Belle Welch Rankin was born May 12, 1925 in Wagoner, Oklahoma. At young age he and his family moved to Claremore. He attended Claremore Schools, and was a member of the graduating class of 1943. In October of 1944 Arlice left his job as a movie projectionist, and enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was quickly sent to school where he learned the skills to serve as the navigator and bombardier on a B-25 bomber. Before World War II had ended; he had flown many campaigns in the Po Valley over Italy. Upon his discharge he returned home to Claremore.

In June of 1946 he married Betty Jean Fugate. They made their home in Claremore for a short time before Arlice's job at Southwestern Bell required them to move. For the next several years Arlice and his family moved from town to town. He was in charge of getting those towns prepared for the switch from rotary to touch tone phones. In 1986 after more than 40 years of service, Arlice retired from the telephone company.

However retirement was short. Rankin Communication was quickly started and went strong until his second retirement in 2008. In his spare time he enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family. He was a member of First Baptist Chuch of Claremore, American Legion and the Elks Lodge.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Belle; wife, Betty; brother, LeVay Rankin, and sister, Lula Peterson.

Survivors include his daughters, Sherri Robison and husband Ronnie and Shelli Long and husband Wayne all of Claremore; grandchildren, Cassie McKellips and husband Adam of Foyil, Brandi Clinton and husband Rob of Claremore Melissa Miller and husband Jeff of Verdigris and Nick Long of Joplin and great-grandchildren, Zoie McKellips, Brian Clinton Taylor Clinton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

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- Arlice Henry Rankin, 86, retired Southwestern Bell supervisor, died Friday. Visitation 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service, and service 11 a.m. Wednesday, First Baptist Church.