In Memory of

Lonnie

Lewis

Okes

Jr.

Obituary for Lonnie Lewis Okes Jr.

Lonnie Lewis Okes, Jr., 89, of Salem went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 14, 2017. He was born October 11, 1927 in Glen Hedrick (Beaver) WV, a son of the late Lonnie Lewis and Grace Akers Okes.
He graduated from Princeton High School in 1945 and West Virginia University in 1950. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the US Army as a Military Policeman and editor of the Military Police newspaper in Korea in 1946/1947.
He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Salem, where he served in various church positions over the years. He was a Scouter with the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts for 24 years and with the Girl Scouts for 15 years.
He was long interested in family history, compiling books on several of his ancestral lines and those of his wife.
Lonnie spent his career as a reporter and editor, retiring in 1992 from the Roanoke Times and World News. He also worked for daily newspapers in Hinton, Welch, and Huntington, WV, Natchez Mississippi and Hanover and Harrisburg, PA.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Jane Arthur Okes, whom he married May 2, 1952: daughter, Rebecca (Stuart) Peck; son, Andrew L Okes; four grandchildren that he was so proud of, Nataly Peck, Simon, Duncan and Nora Okes; his brother, Emerson (Diana) Okes, and many special nieces and nephews and friends.
He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Alma Joseph, Judy Arthur, and Sandy (Sonny) Lawson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Melva (Robert) Duncan, and Eileen (Ernest Lee) Skaggs; and three brothers, Harold (Jamie) Okes, Wilbert (Betty) Okes, and Orlan (Betty) Okes.
Funeral services will be held at 12PM, Thursday, May 18, 2017 at the Chapel of John M. Oakey & Son, Salem. The Revs. Tim Gearheart, Emory Tarpley and Jason Bryant will officiate. Burial will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends for two hours prior to the service, beginning at 10 AM, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blue Ridge Mountain Council, (Boy Scouts), 2131 Valley View Blvd, NW, Roanoke, VA 24012 or RAM House (Roanoke Area Ministries) 824 Campbell Ave, SW Roanoke, VA 24016, in memory of Lonnie. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.