Virgil Thomas Petty, age 86, died on August 13, 2022, at his home in Ponca City surrounded by loved ones. Viewing will be from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, August 16, 2022 and 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at Trout Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at the First Baptist Church, with Pastor Michael Taylor officiating. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www. troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 1:45 PM.

Virgil was born in Ponca City, OK to Virgil L. & Elizabeth (Smith) Petty on November 2, 1935. He grew up in Ralston and graduated from Chickasha in 1953. He loved sports and was a great athlete. He excelled in basketball and football, and even won the State championship and received a scholarship to play basketball in New Mexico. He also played for a minor league baseball team.

He had a passion for sports and athletics-helping build up Ray Lessert softball field, coached Little League, and coached high school basketball. He moved his family to Ponca City and worked for Conoco as a technician in research & development where he retired after 30 + years.

He loved his family, his grandkids, and especially his wife, Ruth. He enjoyed a good joke, watching Oklahoma sports, and his dog Joey. He loved the outdoors, whether it was tending to his tomatoes, hunting, or tinkering in his shop. But his favorite activity was fishing. A good day was a day on the water with a pole in his hand.

He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church and was a tribal member of the Osage Nation.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Ruth (Wilkins) Petty of Ponca City; his children Janet & Todd Holmes of Tulsa, Lisa Didlake of Bartlesville, and Tommy & Deborah Petty of Red Rock; his stepsons Steve & Lynn Combrink of Columbus, KS and Mike & Nancy Combrink of Enid. Also surviving are his thirteen grandchildren and twenty nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth Smith and Virgil L Petty; stepmother Flora Petty, his sister Carol Ann Hunter, his stepson Ronnie Combrink and his son-in-law Paul Didlake.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Paid Obituary