Billey Kent McGruder

Billey Kent McGruder, Sr. was born June 24, 1936, in OKC, OK to Harry and Pearl McGruder. He passed away June 5, 2025, at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his wife, Robbie Jo McGruder, and two sons-in-law, Johnny Warrick and Dr. Rod Linzman, siblings, Wayne McGruder, Rita Smith, Juanita Binder, Jerry McDowell, Melvin Charboneau. He is survived by six children, Debbie and husband Michael Stevens, Denise Linzman, Billey McGruder II and wife Diana, Brenda Warrick, Robert McGruder, and Robbie Jane, two brothers, Tim Charboneau and Jim Charboneau.

He was the fourth of eight siblings. He grew up in the Capitol Hill area of OKC and was an alumnus of Capitol Hill Senior High School. He met and later married the love of his life, Robbie Jo Calcote, on December 23, 1954. He was the proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren, Micah, Rebekah, Katurah, Daniel, Gib, Billey Kent III, Adrienne, Johnny Ray, Lindsay, Christina and Danny Scott and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Billey enjoyed a successful twenty-four-year career in the Air Force, rising to the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant and superintendent of aircraft maintenance. He served on numerous military installations. These included Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Clark AFB, Philippines, and Nha Trang, Viet Nam, serving two tours during the Viet Nam conflict. He distinguished himself by improvising a device to restore the hydraulics in the landing gear of an aircraft whose landing gear failed to launch. He did this during the flight and the device was later patented by the Air Force. He received a special commendation medal for his work.

He retired in 1979 to Midwest City, OK where he established a landscaping business. He worked until he was 80 years old. Billey enjoyed working on cars, gardening, hosting social events for his large family, going to concerts with his wife, Robbie, all Oklahoma Sooners sports, new gadgets, and Saturday night Svengoolie programs.

Billey was the anchor of his family and a devoted husband and father. Born in very humble circumstances, he took charge of his education and had a highly successful career. He was skilled and could repair virtually anything. He was humble, generous, compassionate, hardworking, and a role model for his children and grandchildren. If a family member or friend had a problem, he was always the one who could find a solution. He was loved and respected by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends. He will be deeply missed.