Henry Roland Croom

Henry Roland Croom went to be with the Lord on August 31, 2014 in Oklahoma City, OK. Roland was born on January 22, 1919, in McAlester, Oklahoma, and at the age of six moved to Oklahoma City with his family. Preceding him in death were his mother and father, Linnie Bell and Mack Eph Croom; his sister, Pattie Hensley; and his brother, Mack E. Croom Jr. Roland graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City where he excelled in football and baseball. He married his high school sweetheart, Anna Beth Stone, and they enjoyed seventy-four years of marriage. Roland enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and spent his enlistment in the South Pacific. On returning from the Service, Roland went to work for the Oklahoma Hardware Company. He and his family moved to Ardmore, OK, where he raised his family and traveled the southern part of the state calling on retail lumber yards, sporting goods stores and hardware stores selling his wares. Following 20 years of employment at Oklahoma Hardware Co., he was employed for 18 years by the State of Oklahoma, as a hard goods buyer in the Central Purchasing Agency. Roland was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent many hours on Lake Murray fishing for crappie and bass. Roland is survived by his wife, Anna Beth; his two sons, Dr. William M. Croom (wife Dana) and Richard Roland Croom (wife Kimberly); five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and loving nieces and nephews. Roland was a wonderful provider, and led his family by example with love, honesty and hard work. Viewing will be Wednesday, September 3rd at Hahn-Cook Street & Draper, 6600 Broadway Ext., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 pm. Graveside services will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 2 p.m.Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.