A celebration of life service for Robert Coston (Bob) Bodenhamer, 88, Edmond, will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May, 14, 2016 in First Baptist Church with James Erlich officiating.

Special seating will be reserved for all former LHS and OU football players, coaches, and other athletes. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the memorial service.

Mr. Bodenhamer passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2016.

Private family burial will be at Waurika Cemetery, Waurika, OK, under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Bob was born on July 25, 1927 in Waurika, OK to W.D. and Ruth Bodenhamer. He was a child of the depression, but while his family was poor in material possessions, they were wealthy in love, and all things necessary to grow physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

In high school, Bob excelled athletically in numerous sports to include basketball, baseball and track and was an All-State football standout. He was a four-year football starter and letterman at OU, playing for Bud Wilkinson.  Bob helped lead the Sooners to two Suger Bowl victories at the end of his junior and senior seasons.  Bob's senior year the Sooners achieved an undefeated season.  But, on December 1, 1949, one month prior to the bowl games, the AP declared Notre Dame, who was also undefeated, the National Champions.  On January 1, 1950 OU won their bowl game, Notre Dame did not win theirs.

Bob's college days were abruptly interrupted after his 1945 freshman football season when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After one year of service, Bob received an honorable discharge and returned to OU to complete his three years of eligibility.

After college, Bob was hired as the head football coach of El Reno High School and in 1954 he became the head football coach of Lawton High School. During his tenure at LHS, Bob coached his beloved Wolverines to two consecutive state championships in 1962 and 1963. During the 1963-1964 school year, while Bob was also serving as LHS Athletic Director, Lawton High won state championships in five different sports.

In 1964, Bob resigned from teaching and coaching to became a financial planner for IDS, Investment Diversified Services, which is now Ameriprise Financial. During his 40 year career with IDS/Ameriprise, Bob earned numerous awards to include the IDS "Hall of Fame" award, the "Millionaires Award" for achieving over a million dollars in sales, and the "Diamond Ring" award for satisfying the annual rigorous weighted production requirements.

While in high school, Bob met the love of his life, Ila Marie Smith. They continued to date during Bob's college football years and eventually married on June 17, 1949. They then embarked on a 65 1/2 year journey filled with OU and LHS football, raising two children and nurturing three grandchildren, travel, family gatherings, church activities and friends. Bob was a life-long Southern Baptist and served his churches in Waurika, Norman, and Lawton in various leadership roles to include deacon, lay-minister, Sunday School teacher, and chairperson for many church committees. Bob also enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading, hiking, and delighting in the magnificent wonders of nature, especially the glorious colors of trees during the Fall season. For all who knew Bob, he will be remembered as a man of impeccable character and integrity. Truly, a man who put God first and lived his faith.

Bob is survived by two children, Jenny Mitchell and husband Bedford, Kerrville, TX and Dr. Mark Bodenhamer and wife Yumee, Edmond, OK; three granddaughters: Jennifer Farley and husband Lee, Wichita, Kan.; Lauren Loecker and husband Justin, Grapevine, TX; and Rebecca English and husband Russell, Ft. Worth, TX; and one great grandson, Blane Farley, Wichita, Kansas.

Bob's parents, his wife, Ila, and his sister, Beth Bodenhamer Liggett, preceded him in death.

Memorial Contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Lawton, OK or Bethel Baptist Church, Norman, OK.