Bob Boaldin

Bob Boaldin, 77, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, in Oklahoma City.

He was born Nov. 3, 1939, in Texas County, Okla. to James T. and Martha Lucille (Zinn) Boaldin.
He married Dian Whitecotton in April 1958. She survives.
After graduating from Elkhart High School in 1957, he attended one semester at Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
He remained faithful to Elkhart and Morton County serving as a city councilman, mayor, 28 years as county commissioner, 13 years as an EMT, and was an annual supporter of the county fair and junior livestock sales.
He also founded and directed First National Bank, purchased Elkhart Telephone Company, Inc. in 1977, and became owner of Elkhart TV cable system in 1978.
In 1977, he began serving on several state and national committees and boards, including President of the State of Kansas Telephone Association, Kansas Supreme Court Blue Ribbon Commission, founding member of WEKANDO (Western Kansas County Commissioners Organization), Kansas 911 Coordinating Council, President of the State of Kansas Legislative Policy Group, Commerce and Housing Appreciation Regional Award, Kansas Governor’s Award of Excellence, Small Business of the Year in Guymon, Oklahoma, Hero Award from Texas County Fair and Exposition, Senator Jerry Moran’s Executive Committee, and appointed to Governmental Ethics Commission Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board by Steve Morris.
In 1975, he began 19 years of service on the board of directors of OPASTCO (Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telephone Companies) with headquarters in Washington DC.
He was a founding member of OPASTCO’S FRED (the Foundation for Rural Education and Development) with scholarship awards to selected United States’ graduating seniors, including seniors in Elkhart.
In 1986, he was elected to the Board of Directors of United States Telecom (national communications organization with offices in Washington DC).
At Hillcrest Baptist Church, he was active in his younger years as a Sunday School teacher, nursery worker, Sunday School Superintendent, and as a deacon.
Survivors also include son, Trenton Boaldin and wife, Susan, Oklahoma City; daughter, Roxanna Grimes and husband, Guy, Riverside, Calif.; grandchildren: Ashley Parks, Amarillo, Texas, Blain and Ali Boaldin, Longmont, Colo., Brittney Boaldin, Wichita, Victoria Boaldin, Oklahoma City, Gabrielle Grimes, Costa Mesa, Calif., and Greyson Grimes, Chattanooga, Tenn.; great-grandson, Karter Parks; brothers, James Boaldin, Elkhart, and Bill Boaldin, Prescott, Ariz.; sister, Joyce Carson, Pampa, Texas; and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Travis Allen Boaldin; granddaughter, Hillari Riad Boaldin; dad, Vern Moore; brother, Johnny Boaldin; and sister, Karen Sparkman.
• Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 at the Morton County Civic Center in Elkhart with Dr. Guy Grimes presiding.
Burial will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart.
Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2 at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart.
Memorials are suggested to Hillcrest Baptist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.