Billy Ray Hartgrove, Sr., 87, of Oklahoma City, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at The Fountains at Canterbury. He was born on September 10, 1931 to L.B. Hartgrove and Virginia Ledenham Hartgrove in Beaumont, Texas.
Billy graduated from Lake Charles High School, Louisiana, in 1949. During his last two years of high school, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at NAS New Orleans, Louisiana, as a mortarman with the 10th Infantry Battalion. After graduation he enrolled at McNeese State University where he participated in the Army ROTC. He moved to Houston, Texas, in 1952 and enlisted in the Navy, serving one year in the Korean War. He was admitted to the U.S Naval Air Cadet (NAVCAD) program where he earned his commission and wings, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1953. He served two years in Trinidad, BWI, flying PBM Mariner Patrol Bomber seaplanes in an Anti-submarine squadron, VP-34. His squadron was moved to Panama in 1955. He married Evelyn Aline Summers in Houston, Texas, on March 31, 1955. He was released from the Navy in 1957 as LTjg USNR. Later in life, he graduated with a B.A. in Human Administration from Southern Nazarene University and had many successful businesses along the way.
He is survived by his two sons, Billy Ray Hartgrove, Jr., and his wife Marcia Hartgrove, and Brian Lee Hartgrove, and his wife Dianna Hartgrove; grandchildren, Amanda Jorgensen, and her husband Jesse Jorgensen, Tyler Hartgrove, and his wife Brandi Hartgrove, Shelby Hartgrove, Alex Hartgrove and his wife Kelsey Hartgrove; great- grandchildren, Nash Jorgensen (5), Jaxon Hartgrove (3) and Nixon Jorgensen (2); sisters-in-law Nancy Hartgrove and Jackie Brosch; brothers-in-law Jim Brosch and Brant Doell. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Evelyn Hartgrove; brother L.B. (Bubba) Hartgrove; sister Virginia Sue Doell; and many friends.
Visitation will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 21, 2019 with family greeting friends from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Hahn-Cook/ Street & Draper Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2019 at Memorial Park Cemetery. Condolences can be left through the funeral home website www.hahncookfuneral.com
