Lahoma Fay (Mason) Greenwood

Lahoma Fay Mason Greenwood of Duncan, Oklahoma, died of complications from Parkinson’s Disease on January 9, 2019. She was born February 21, 1934, in Newcastle, Texas, to Odus Mason and Estelle Roberts Mason and grew up in Petrolia and Wichita Falls, Texas. She met her husband, Richard, in high school and they married September 5, 1954, at the beginning of their college junior year. She graduated magna cum laude from Hardin-Simmons University in 1956 with a degree in Business and Religious Education.

Lahoma knew from the time she was 10 years old that she wanted to be a missionary to a foreign land and was appointed on December 13, 1962, by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve in Guatemala. She would live there for the next 33 years sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through writing books, publishing children’s literature, developing Bible memorization and study programs for women, and training church leadership. It gave her great joy and deep meaning to follow God’s call.

Her investment in others did not end with her retirement. She moved to Duncan and continued her service through her involvement with the missions program at First Baptist Church, teaching Sunday School, and serving in the prayer room ministry. She also tutored at-risk children in the after-school program at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Her contributions were recognized by the Gabriel House in 2014 when she was given the Halo Award for the volunteer of the year.

Lahoma took delight in calla lilies, the ocean, and being with the family she loved so very dearly. She laughed easily, listened well, prayed fervently, and loved deeply. She was a good friend, wise mentor, loyal sister, beloved mother, and cherished wife.

Lahoma’s family has established a scholarship fund in her name for college students wishing to go into full time missionary service. Memorial contributions may be made to:

Ouachita Baptist University
The Richard and Lahoma Greenwood Scholarship Fund
410 Ouachita Street
Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998.

She is predeceased by her parents, Odus and Estelle Mason, and infant son Jon Marc. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Richard Greenwood, and four children; Stephen (Patty) Greenwood of Duncan, Paul (Sybil) Greenwood of Duncan, Jonathan (Melanne) Greenwood of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Susan (Craig) Scates of Raleigh, North Carolina. She is also survived by 9 grandsons and 1 great-granddaughter. Additional survivors include her siblings; Movelda Patterson of Iowa Park, Texas, Wanda Hall of Wichita Falls, Texas, John Mason of Wichita Falls, Texas, Richard Mason (Phyllis) of Kaufman, Texas, and Nelda Wilbanks of Jupiter Beach, Florida.

Family visitation will be held on Friday, January 11, from 5-7:30 PM at Whitt Funeral Home.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, January 12, at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Bryan Pain officiating. Interment will follow at Duncan Municipal Cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Whitt Funeral Home.

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lahoma Fay (Mason) Greenwood, please visit our floral store.