Anderson Jerome Lonian

Anderson Jerome Lonian was born January 16, 1907 in Mayes County near Ketchum, Oklahoma. He was the second of three children born to Jackson Wallace Lonian and Rebecca Owings Lonian. Both parents and siblings preceded him in death. As a youth, he joined the church through baptism in a river and remained steadfast in his faith throughout his life. He was a lifelong learner who cherished his family, loved baseball and enjoyed crossword puzzles until he passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2003. Anderson and Sylvia Geraldine Dukes were married in Boley, Oklahoma on June 4, 1944. They parented three children and enjoyed 47 years of marriage until her death in 1991. Anderson graduated in 1933 from Attucks High School in Vinita, Oklahoma. He graduated magna cum laude from Langston University in 1939 with majors in mathematics and chemistry. In 1951, he received a Master of Arts degree in school administration from the University of Michigan, and studied further at the University of Oklahoma. His educational career began as a math teacher and basketball coach at Douglass High School in Crescent, Oklahoma in 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor that December, he was promoted to assistant principal, and then principal during his ten years at Crescent. In 1952 the family moved to Oklahoma City, where Mr. Lonian was principal of Edwards Elementary School until 1967 and principal of Creston Hills School until 1977. While working, Mr. Lonian was affiliated with the boards of the Oklahoma State Principals, Young Men's Christian Association, Urban League, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Teachers Credit Union and East Side Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Lonian was a devoted member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, serving as a Deacon, Scholarship Committee member and Sunday School member until his death. He was recognized on many occasions for his contributions to the church through his service and leadership. He had also remained an active lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He leaves to cherish his memory three children and their spouses, Anderson J. Lonian, Jr., (Jacquie) of Tulsa, Robert Duke Lonian, M.D., (Sheliah) of Plano, Texas, and Emilykaye Lonian Mitchelson (Michael) of Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren, Andrea Lonian of Washington, D.C., Anderson J. (Trippe), III, Ayanna and Jonathan Lonian of Boston, MA, Kayla Lonian of Plano, TX, Mireille and Heather Lonian of New Orleans, LA and Michael and Robert Mitchelson of Oklahoma City, OK; a sister-in-law, Irene Dukes McCormick of Oklahoma City; one niece, Mary Horton Wallace of Tulsa, OK; two nephews, Donald Horton of Shreveport, LA and Wilmer C. Horton, Jr., of Nashville, TN; and a host of relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to Integris Baptist Medical Center Foundation, 3030 NW Expressway, OKC, OK 73112. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Monday, September 22nd, 2003, at Tabernacle Baptist Church under the direction of Rolfe Funeral Home, Inc. Interment will be at Trice Hill Cemetery.