Leona Annie Holcomb was born on June 8, 1916 to Ben and Ollie Holcomb. She was born in a "shotgun" house in Caddo County Oklahoma. She passed away on November 4, 2021 at 105 years old.
Leona was a lifelong advocate of Education. She graduated from Broxton High School in 1934. She went on to receive Bachelor's Degrees in Social Studies and Vocational Home Economics in 1956. She received her Masters of Education in 1961.
Leona married Lawrence William Metzger in 1935. They had three daughters and a son. Anita, LuAlison, Lawrence and Cathy.
Leona was employed as the Caddo County Visiting Teacher in the late 1950's. In 1961 she was employed as the Superintendent of Eakly Schools. In 1962 she took a teaching position in Lompoc, California and moved the family there. Bill Metzger passed away in February 1963.
She met and married Andrew J. Ford, a fellow Okie. They were married in Lompoc, California in 1966.
When Leona retired from teaching, she moved back to Apache, the home she always loved. Later she would become Apache's oldest living resident, as her father was before her.
Leona's recognitions and accolades are too numerous to list them all, a few are USAO Alumni Association's Executive Board, Centenarians of Oklahoma, VFW Auxiliary, Oklahoma Ageless Heroes for love of Learning, reporter for the USAO student paper. She was most proud of winning the WII Bowling tournament at the nursing home and getting her picture on the front of the Lawton paper.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ollie and Ben Holcomb; Lawrence Metzger, Sr.; Andy Ford, Sr.; sisters: Lucile Bridwell, Vivian Stikoff; brother, John Holcomb; son, Lawrence Metzger, Jr.; and daughter, Anita Metzger.
She is survived by LuAlison Hash and Cathy Parsons, both of Apache; Andrew Ford, Jr. and Debbie Ford of Washington state; grandchildren: Pat Huyck, Michael Huyck, Donald Parsons, Allison Moroso, LeeAnn Simmons, Benny Metzger, Jamie Threldkeld, and Billy Metzger; 14 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 4, at 1:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church in Apache, Oklahoma.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.crewsfh.com.
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