Obituary for Merelin Wayne Dobbins
Merelin Wayne Dobbins, 64, of Altus, Oklahoma, passed away on Monday, October 17, 2011, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was born February 2, 1947, to Hazel Mae (Whorton) and John C. Dobbins in Carnegie, Caddo County, Oklahoma. When he was three years old, the family moved to Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma, where he was raised and attended school.
Merelin served in the United States Army from February 1964 until January 1967. During this time, he did his first tour of Vietnam, earning the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and two Overseas Bars. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force in November 1967, where he served a total of eighteen years, including a second tour of Vietnam. He served as a tactical aircraft maintenance technician, maintenance management technician, and auto tracking radar technician and achieved the rank of TSgt E-6. Honors earned in the U.S. Air Force include the Air Force Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with an Oak Leaf Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with a Silver Star and a Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.
Preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and John Dobbins; sister, Margie Elizabeth Rutherford; brothers, Walter Franklin Dobbins and George C. Dobbins; and niece, Samantha Lynn Dobbins Wilson, Merelin is survived by his daughters, Becky Smith and husband Leonard of Hobart, Oklahoma, and Paula New and husband Tom of Weatherford, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, U.S. Army Pvt. Janay Perry of Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, T.C. Perry, III of Elk City, Oklahoma, Erick James Perry of Hobart, Oklahoma, and Austin, Zachary, and Dylan New, of Weatherford, Oklahoma; two sisters, Katherine Pitts and John, of San Diego, California, and Clara Mae Lewis and husband Gary of Denver, Colorado; two brothers, Melvin Dobbins and wife Rose of Lewisburg, West Virginia and Ronald G. Dobbins and wife Geneva of Altus, Oklahoma; and brother-in-law, Jay C. Rutherford, Sr. of Cordell, Oklahoma. Merelin is also survived by many nieces, nephews, his brothers in arms of the military, and numerous friends.
Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. in the Lowell-Tims Chapel in Altus with Pastor Joe W. Jackson, Emmanuel-Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Hobart officiating. Interment will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
On line tributes may be made to www.Lowell-Tims.com
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Merelin served in the United States Army from February 1964 until January 1967. During this time, he did his first tour of Vietnam, earning the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and two Overseas Bars. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force in November 1967, where he served a total of eighteen years, including a second tour of Vietnam. He served as a tactical aircraft maintenance technician, maintenance management technician, and auto tracking radar technician and achieved the rank of TSgt E-6. Honors earned in the U.S. Air Force include the Air Force Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with an Oak Leaf Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with a Silver Star and a Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.
Preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and John Dobbins; sister, Margie Elizabeth Rutherford; brothers, Walter Franklin Dobbins and George C. Dobbins; and niece, Samantha Lynn Dobbins Wilson, Merelin is survived by his daughters, Becky Smith and husband Leonard of Hobart, Oklahoma, and Paula New and husband Tom of Weatherford, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, U.S. Army Pvt. Janay Perry of Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, T.C. Perry, III of Elk City, Oklahoma, Erick James Perry of Hobart, Oklahoma, and Austin, Zachary, and Dylan New, of Weatherford, Oklahoma; two sisters, Katherine Pitts and John, of San Diego, California, and Clara Mae Lewis and husband Gary of Denver, Colorado; two brothers, Melvin Dobbins and wife Rose of Lewisburg, West Virginia and Ronald G. Dobbins and wife Geneva of Altus, Oklahoma; and brother-in-law, Jay C. Rutherford, Sr. of Cordell, Oklahoma. Merelin is also survived by many nieces, nephews, his brothers in arms of the military, and numerous friends.
Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. in the Lowell-Tims Chapel in Altus with Pastor Joe W. Jackson, Emmanuel-Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Hobart officiating. Interment will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
On line tributes may be made to www.Lowell-Tims.com
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