H. Oscar Lochridge

 

My grandpa Oscar passed away last week. He has had Alzheimer's since 2004 and eventually had to move into an Alzheimer's unit in 2011. It has been so hard to watch this disease take over. I grieved when it got so bad that we had to move him, so I was surprised a little when I was so sad last week when he finally went to heaven. We are thankful that he is no longer suffering or sick, that he can hear fully and remember fully, and that he is with Jesus, but we mourn him being gone from us here. He was the best grandpa and I have so many sweet memories growing up with him. We spent so much time with he and my Granny growing up and I love them both to pieces!

The service was Saturday, so we drove up to Ft. Worth on Friday and stayed through Sunday. The service was in Ft. Worth at their church and then we all drove out to Iowa Park where he was born and the graveside was held there. Randy and Scott led the graveside service and it was very sweet and such a blessing to our whole family.

Here are some pictures of us with Oscar. This first one was when we went to visit him in his new home, Christmas 2011.

Our wedding, December 6, 2003

At their house, right after Cooper was born, Christmas 2010. He was already sick at this point but still living at home. My granny did such a wonderful job of caring for him.

Here are some of the flowers from the funeral. This one said "Great Grandchildren." He had 14 - which includes a little girl in China he's never met! We will love telling her, Kendall and Cooper stories about Oscar as they grow, and passing down the sweet legacy he left for them.  

Texas Tech! He graduated from there and was always a huge fan. He loved his red raiders! At the graveside, before it was over, Scott and Randy had us all do one final "guns up" for Oscar. Loved it!

Kendall, Cooper and Calli, your grandpa Oscar was one of the best men I have ever known, and he loved his family so much. You will for sure grow up hearing some of his funny sayings and stories. We are so thankful for him and are resting now knowing he is in heaven with Jesus!

 

Here is his obituary:

 

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Hugh Oscar Lochridge, 87, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, surrounded by his family.
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday at North Pointe Baptist Church, 147 E. Hurst Blvd., Hurst. Interment: 3 p.m. in Highland Cemetery, Iowa Park. Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday in the church parlor.
Memorials: Consideration of gifts in Oscar's memory may be made to North Pointe Baptist Church or the Alzheimer's Association, 2630 West Freeway, Suite 100, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
Oscar was born Sept. 20, 1925, in Iowa Park to Oscar E. and Lottie Denny Lochridge. He graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1942 and cherished his classmate friends through their 60th reunion. He was Oscar to all his friends, Hugh to his fellow workers later in his career and "Bub" to all his family. Even with a lifelong hearing problem, he graduated from Texas Tech (then Texas Technological College) in 1949 with a degree in petroleum engineering-geology. He returned in August of that year to receive his second engineering degree in geophysics.
Oscar spent three years working in the oil industry in Alberta, Canada, and Montana. He married Corrie Laverne Stewart of Burkburnet. After months in Montana, far away from home, they decided to make the long move back to Texas to be near family and friends. They settled in Westworth Village where Oscar served on the City Council and as mayor pro tem. In 1961, the family moved to North Richland Hills, where they raised their two sons. Oscar spent his career working as safety engineer for Millers and Employers Insurance companies, retiring in 1983 from the Home Insurance Co. of New York, responsible for all the Texas division.
After the death of his first wife following a lengthy illness, he married Evalyn Nichols Wood. They traveled extensively, visiting all 254 Texas counties, capitals of 50 states and numerous countries.
Oscar loved history and the lore of Route 66. He served on the Tarrant County Historical Commission for many years and received an award for Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from the Texas Historical Commission in 1995. He was a life member of the Lok-Rig Family Association and served as president for four years. He had a passion for researching his family history and meeting Lochridges from all over the country, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including eight different spellings. He was a member of the Route 66 Federation and the Texas Tech Alumni Association, where he was presented the Outstanding Engineering Alumna award in 1994. He was a member of North Richland Hills Baptist Church for almost 40 years where he served on the deacon council. He had been a member of North Pointe Baptist Church since 2000.
Oscar was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Corrie; son, Gary and his wife, Brenda; and infant grandson, Thomas.
Survivors: Wife, Evalyn; son, Grant Lochridge and wife, Gabriella; Mark Wood and wife, Lisa; Donna Wood; grandchildren, Karen Reddick (Patrick), Kathryn Aldas (Matt), Allen Lochridge (Mai), Angelina Lochridge, James Lochridge (Alyssa), Corrie Loftin (Jeff), Ashley Dane (Randy), Alden Johnson (Scott), Meagan Eason; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Margie McDonald; and numerous other relatives and friends.