Fred E Souders

Fred Ellis Souders passed from this life on April 15, 2026, at the Norman Regional Hospital in Norman, Oklahoma. Fred was born to Theodore (Ted) and Bell Souders on September 25, 1927, northeast of Shawnee on the home place of his grandfather, John Calvin Souders. He started school at age 5 at Buggs Schuffel School also known as Mount Zion. He walked alone to school every day and it was a mile before he reached the first wagon road. He grew up in the Johnson community along with his one sister, Margaret, and his two brothers, Bob and Merle. During the drought of 1935-36, his father and the family moved to Abernathy, Texas to work in the cotton fields. His sister, Margaret took care of their brother Bob, but Fred at age 9 worked with his parents picking cotton and picked up to 200 pounds a day. After the drought, they moved back to the Johnson community in Oklahoma and he spent his early childhood working with his father on their land, raising crops and produce using teams of horses and tractors. At the early age of 18, he joined the Army and sailed on the USS Hodges to Japan. In his free time, he would enjoy riding horses through the snow-covered mountains of Japan. He was a proud WWII veteran and served his country honorably. After returning to the United States, he married the love of his life Wilma Yoder on September 30, 1947. Wilma was the daughter of Walter and Velma Yoder. Brother Yoder was the founder and pastor of Johnson Church of God. To Fred and Wilma were born two daughters, Sandra and Retha, and one son, Lindel. Fred and Wilma were lifelong Shawnee residents other than a brief move to Palmdale, California to be near his uncle Frank Souders, while there he worked at Lockheed AFB. After their permanent return to Oklahoma, Fred’s career and retirement was at Tinker AFB. Fred loved to ride horses and was a skilled horseman. He enjoyed many trail rides with family and friends throughout the years. His favorite and most beloved horse was Poco who he enjoyed riding many years. His son Lindel’s horse, Sparky lived to be 38 years and they rode these two horses together on trail rides. In addition to riding horses, he was an avid coon hunter and enjoyed many years of coon hunting with his friends who shared the same coon hunting passion. Fred was proceeded in death by his wife of 62 years, Wilma, his son in law Larry Bullard, his mother and father, brother Robert (Bob) Souders, sister Margaret Souders Herron and her husband Ralph, mother and father in law Walter and Velma Yoder, sister in law Sharon Souders, sister in law Wanda and husband Buck Souders, sister in law Neva and husband Jay Everett, sister in law Sharon and husband Edward Short, brother in law Walter Warren Yoder, and grandson Fredrick Souders. He is survived by his daughter Sandra Bullard, daughter Retha (Lloyd) Tucker, son Lindel (Patti) Souders, brother Merle Souders, and sister in law Jamie Yoder. His grandchildren, Angela (Jerry) Corona, Jamie (Kenny) Speer, Brigit Thompson, Becky (Jason) Little, Brian (Anitra) Kennedy, Greg (Tisha) Kennedy, and Kalie (Austin) Posey, 17 great grandchildren, and 24 great great grandchildren. A visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home on Thursday, April 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. located at 44909 Hwy 3, Shawnee, OK, 74801. Graveside services will be Friday, April 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. officiated by Brother Charles Green at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, 16006 S Rock Creek rd, Shawnee, OK, 74801.