Marion Lee Towns

Marion (Major) Lee Towns, age 90, joined his wife of 65 years, Patricia, in heaven on April 7, 2024. Marion was born in Shields, KS in 1933 and grew up in Silica and Chase, KS.  He graduated from Chase Rural High School in Chase, KS in 1951.  During his school years, he was active in Boy Scouts, football, track, student government and drama, a rare combination of scholastic, dramatic and athletic ability.

Marion joined the US Air Force in 1951.  He was stationed near Seoul, Korea, serving with the 2nd Radio Relay Squadron during the Korean War. After returning to the states, he served at the Shaw Air Force Base continuing to work in radio communications.  While at Shaw, he competed with the Air Force swim team.

He enrolled at Kansas State University in 1956 and it wasn't long before he & Patricia Lindsay were married in Chase, KS.  He was a member of the K-State swim team, became a father of two, and worked on the side during college.  He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering in1959.

After graduation from K-State, he began his career with General Electric in upstate NY designing airborne communication equipment.  Marion & Pat were blessed with three more children and decided to move closer to the family.  He transferred with GE to Oklahoma City in 1963 to begin a new project of designing computer peripherals.  He completed a MS in Engineering from OU in 1969, and an MBA from Oklahoma City University in1980.  His career continued with GE & affiliates for a total of 42 years, and he ultimately retired from Seagate Technology in 2002.

Marion loved dancing, singing in the shower, and Chase reunions, but most of all he loved his family.  In 2000, he and Pat purchased a Winnebago motorhome and traveled extensively for the next 20 years, making lifelong RV friends along the way. In retirement his hobbies were worldwide travel, golf, woodworking and class G electric trains. He loved kids and his community, so after retirement he enjoyed driving a school bus for Mustang Public Schools for several years. An active church member and deacon, he loved the Lord, and he loved serving his family and others.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia L. Towns, and great-grandson, Tucker McCallie.

He is survived by sons & daughters in law, Tim Towns & Derice Pfefferkorn of Longmont, CO, Tom & Shelly Towns of Tuttle, OK, Tracy & Kim Towns of Bethany, OK; daughters & sons-in-law, Terri & Leonard Walters of Canton, OK and Tammi & Bob Ogle of Fairview, TN; and many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces & nephews.

Viewing and visitation will be held 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Yanda & Son Funeral Home, Yukon, OK.  A celebration of life service will be at 2:00 pm, Friday, April 19, 2024, at the First Christian Church, Yukon, OK, with interment following at the Mustang Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Marion's name to First Christian Church of Yukon, 601 Maple Ave, Yukon, OK  73099.