Earl Winzel Booker

Earl Winzel Booker, a beloved pillar of Southwest Oklahoma, entered into the arms of his Lord on December 23, 2025. He was eighty-eight years old. Born on May 25, 1937, to Ross and Lillian (Richardson) Booker, Earl's life was a profound testament to unwavering faith, devoted service, and quiet, steadfast love.
Earl's character was forged in the red soil of Oklahoma and the resilient spirit of a family farm during the Great Depression. From this beginning, he learned the sacred dignity of hard work a principle that would guide every chapter of his life. Being raised near Friendship, he was a proud graduate of Friendship High School in 1955. He furthered his education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, graduating in 1960, and thus began a lifetime of learning and leading.
His greatest education, however, was in the Word of God. Earl welcomed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in the fourth grade and was baptized at Friendship Baptist Church, embarking on a walk with God that never wavered. It was at Emmanuel Baptist Church that he met the love of his life, Shirley Wyatt. Their blessed union began on June 30, 1967, in that same church, launching a partnership of fifty-eight years built on shared faith and devotion.
Earl's calling to shape young minds was immediate. He began his distinguished career at Wilson Elementary and soon answered the call to leadership, serving as Principal of Robert E. Lee Elementary. His legacy in education was cemented during his tenure as Principal of Central Kindergarten, a role he held with grace and dedication until his retirement in 1990. For over thirty years, he was not just an administrator but a foundational influence, a steady presence who believed in the potential of every child. In a fitting and honoring tribute, the school where he dedicated himself was renamed the Booker Learning Center.
A man of deep and active faith, Earl was a longtime member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Upon moving his family to Headrick in 1985, he joined and faithfully attended Headrick Baptist Church. His faith was neither passive nor private; he was a lifelong student of theology, whose Bible was well-worn from study and whose relationship with Jesus was the focal point of his existence.
Retirement could not idle hands that were shaped for service. A true farmer at heart, he had worked the land throughout his teaching career and continued full-time upon retiring, finding immense joy and solace among his cattle and under the open sky. His passions were simple and profound: his family, his farm, and Oklahoma Sooners football, which became a rallying point of joy and camaraderie for all he loved.
Earl was preceded in glory by his parents; his cherished son, Stephen Booker; his grandson, Kyle Thompson; his brothers Don Ray, Kenneth, D.L., Marlan, and LaVon Booker; and his sister, Norma (Booker) Blanton.
He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, carried on by his devoted wife, Shirley; his son, Michael Booker (Mandy); his daughter-in-law, Robin Booker; his brother, Jimmy Booker; his grandchildren, Justin Thompson (Andrea), Kenna Thompson (Juwan), Tristan Leija (Marcus), McKayla Booker, and Stephen James Booker; and his great-grandchildren, Baylor Ann, Savannah Jo, Macie Isabella, Kyleigha, Jayden, and Kyla. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and the countless lives he touched as a foster parent to over thirty children alongside Shirley, a ministry of open arms and open hearts.
Earl Booker was a man who walked the walk, a humble servant who ensured his family was cared for and whose simple, deep faith illuminated his path. His life was a powerful sermon lived daily, a testimony to devotion, and a masterclass in having a genuine, transformative relationship with Jesus Christ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Stephen E. Booker Foundation Child Advocacy Center, continuing a legacy of care and support.
"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." - Proverbs 13:22. Earl Winzel Booker left an inheritance of faith, integrity, and love that will endure for generations.
The Booker family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2025 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brent Logan officiating. Committal right will be observed at Altus City Cemetery. Services and care have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.