Larry Allford

Virgil Larry Allford, 79, a lifelong resident of McAlester, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 15, 2025 in Oklahoma City surrounded by his loving family.
Larry was born May 14, 1945 in McAlester, Oklahoma to W.E. "Bill" and Ramona Weddle Allford.
Prior to graduating from McAlester High School in 1963 he was named an All-State football player as a senior and was then awarded a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. After graduating from OU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, he attended Officer Candidate School and served as an officer in the United States Army. He spent most of his military service in Seoul, Korea.
After his military service, he returned to McAlester where he was employed in the family petroleum products business. Soon after, he met Gayle Davenport and they were married on August 17, 1974. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and are now reunited forever in Heaven. Together they raised four children: Kim, Amy, Mona Gayle, and Eric.
Larry was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church where he served on various committees. He served as a deacon for several years, and then in most recent years became Deacon Emeritus. He taught Sunday school for many years and most of those years were spent with the youth. He was also involved with the jail ministry for Pittsburg County.
Larry was a board member for the Boys Club of McAlester and the Girls Club. He also served as a board member for the Salvation Army, eventually becoming a lifetime member. He was a member of the Masonic South McAlester Lodge Number 96, McAlester Consistory of the Scottish Rite and Bedouin Temple Shrine.
He was a loving and devoted husband, an incredible dad, the best papa and a loyal friend to many. Larry had a very special quality to be able to make a genuine connection with everyone he met. Larry and Gayle were committed to helping anyone in need. Their home was always open for everyone where they provided love, comfort, prayers, meals or just a place to sleep and as you entered the door you immediately felt you were a part of their family. He cherished his visits with friends and strangers, enjoyed fishing and was a dedicated Oklahoma Sooners fan. He loved everyone he knew and everyone he knew loved him.
Larry is survived by his three daughters, Kimberly Thompson of Oklahoma City, Amy Owens and husband, Greg, of McAlester and Mona Gayle Voss and husband, Richard, of Coffeyville, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Jordan, Trevor, Grace, and Addison Thompson, Grant and Anna Owens, and Daric, Brayson, and Carsten Voss; four great-grandchildren, Aspen, Jaxon, Jason, and Jettson Thompson. Also a sister, Linda Kay Deak and husband, Mike, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and brother, Ronald Allford, and wife, Janis, of McAlester. And nieces and nephew, Diane Deak, Cheryl Furlong, Stephanie McCullough, Clint Allford, Christie Watson, and Abby Allford. Also, he was blessed with countless lifelong friends and special caretakers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, W.E. "Bill" and Ramona Allford; his beloved wife, Gayle Allford; and his son, Eric Allford.
The family will welcome friends for visitation on Friday, February 21st at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of McAlester, with Pastors Randy Adams and Steve Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Larry's grandsons and nephew, Clint Allford. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Allford, J.A. Allford, John Allford, Mike Base, Larry Bishop, Massie Cappo, Bob Chapman, Tommy Claybrook, Mike Compton, Warren Gotcher, Hailey Kanard, Mike Kennedy, Steve Kennedy, Carl McAdams, Chuck McBee, Phil Pourchot, Jim Riley, Don Smitherman, Billy Stromberg, John Titsworth and fellow United States Army Officers and Veterans, as well as the class of 1963 University of Oklahoma Sooners football team.
A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Brent Beson and the MDA Neuromuscular Center of Oklahoma City. Also, thank you to Southwest Integris Hospital, Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center, Integris Hospice House all of Oklahoma City and the VA Hospitals and caregivers of Oklahoma.
In remembrance of Larry Allford, contributions may be made to the Neuromuscular Center (4221 Southwestern Avenue, Suite 5010, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73109). Please indicate "In memory of Virgil Larry Allford" on your gift.