The Honorable Charles William Stratton, Junior, ("Bill") passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.  Bill was born July 5, 1935, in San Francisco, California, to Captain Charles William Stratton and Ruth Ross Stratton.

As the son of a career Army officer, Bill and his sister Nancy spent their childhood in such places as Fort Lewis, Washington; Bismarck, North Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa; several cities in California, and Lawton, Oklahoma, where the family stayed while his father served in the Pacific during World War II.

At the conclusion of the war, the family was transferred to Hakata, Japan where Bill was a member of the All-Japan Basketball Team.  He returned to Lawton for his junior and senior years at Lawton High School where he was elected Senior Class President and served as District Judge for Boys' All-State. Bill was named to the All-Conference Football Team, playing baseball and basketball.

Bill attended the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.  It was here that his never-ending love for the Sooners was born.

He joined the United States Army in 1956 and spent three years on the East German border.  While serving, Bill played on the regimental football team, traveling through Europe with his team.

After his military service, Bill attended Southwestern State University, graduating Cum Laude.  After graduation, Bill enrolled at The University of Louisville School of Law and graduated in 1964.

Bill married Lugene Williams and opened his first law practice in Mt. Washington, KY.  After the birth of two sons, the family returned to Lawton where he opened a private law practice.  Bill served as a juvenile probation officer, a professor of real estate, business law and economics at Cameron University in addition to founding the Southwestern School of Real Estate.

With Max Elkins, he started Lawton's Club Wrestling Program and coached Little League football and baseball.

Bill married Janice Jacqueline Romney Stratton in 1974, combining their two families into one big happy family with six children.  Bill's career was defined by his integrity and dedication to his clients.  Bill served as a trusted advisor to clients both large and small, culminating in his appointment as lead counsel and board member of The American National Bank.

Bill mentored younger attorneys and took pleasure in watching them prosper in their careers.

Recognized for his legal acumen and integrity, Bill was appointed Special District Judge for Comanche County in 1994, beginning a new and rewarding chapter in his professional endeavors.  In 1998, he was elected Associate District Judge and served four terms, retiring at the age of eighty.

Among the honors bestowed upon him while serving on the bench were the Professionalism Award (Comanche County Bar Association), the Alma Wilson Award (Oklahoma Bar Association) for his efforts to improve the lives of children and the Gang Prevention Award (The Gang Prevention Association). He was a genuine scholar of the law who took pride in preparation, knowledge, and consistency in following the law.

Outside of the office, Bill enjoyed quiet time and intellectual pursuits with his beloved wife and best friend, Jan.  Despite his professional and family commitments, Bill served the community as a board member for The United Way (Lawton-Fort Sill) and Arts for All.  Bill served as President of The Lawton Community Theatre for two terms and President of The Lawton Country Club for three terms.

Weekend afternoons found Bill cheering on the OU Sooners and NFL football. An accomplished athlete, Bill was an avid golfer who loved the game and the joy of being outdoors.  He never worried about his score, instead taking pleasure in the company of friends and endeavoring to improve with each outing.  His most memorable accomplishment was an impressive hole-in-one at The Territory Golf and Country Club in 2010 at the age of seventy-four.  He later added another just for good measure.  For years, he and Jan hit the links with friends on the weekends.

Bill took special delight in leading younger family members around the course when the unpredictable Oklahoma weather challenged even the most adventurous souls.

Bill loved his family and being with them.  Whether it was watching football, attending the theater, water skiing on Lake Lawtonka or the infamous family journey to Virginia for the bicentennial celebration in 1976, Bill expected everyone to have fun "whether they wanted to or not!"

Bill is predeceased by his father, Col C.W. Stratton, his mother, Ruth Ross Stratton, his sister, Nancy Stratton Geyer, brother in law, Roger Geyer and niece Gretchen Geyer.

He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Jan Stratton; their six children and spouses: Christine and Scott Perkins of Durango, Colorado, Dr. Steven and Clare Stratton of Austin, Texas; Thomas and Toby Soli of Redding, Connecticut; Mark and Jennifer Stratton of Austin, Texas; Stanford Stratton of Houston, Texas and Elizabeth and Salvatore Macchio of Stratford, Connecticut.  Also, their wonderful grandchildren Christopher and Tristan Perkins of San Antonio, Texas: Taylor Perkins of San Antonio, Texas; Bray Stratton of Austin, Texas; Augustus Stratton of Austin, Texas; William and Keara Stratton of Austin, Texas;  Dr. Katherine and Jordan Posch of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Elizabeth and Christopher Haseltine of Dallas, Texas; Sage and Alex Bardani of Easton, Connecticut; Thomas Soli III of Redding, Connecticut; Trevor Soli of Redding, Connecticut;  Ford Stratton, Bayard Stratton, Wilson Stratton and Jack Stratton, all of Houston, Texas; Danielle Macchio of Wake Forest, North Carolina and six great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held July 5, 2025 in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.  This would have been Judge Stratton's 90th birthday.