Billy Joe McCullough, 74, of Tishomingo, Okla.passed away Monday, March 8, 2021 at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was born on February 21, 1947 in Seminole, Okla. to the late Martial Stevenson McCullough and Alice Marie Meadows McCullough.
Bill was raised in Little City and attended Madill High School where he graduated in 1965. He attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla. until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 for a tour in Vietnam and served till 1968. He was honorably discharged with a Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense service Medal, 2d Gunner (h-60-hg), and Marksman (rifle).
Bill married Helen Louise Rorex on July 19, 1969 in Garland, Texas. Soon after, they moved to Little City, Okla. and he started working at Uniroyal on June 16, 1971 as a tire builder until he retired in 2002. After a couple of years, they moved to Tishomingo where he lived the rest of his life.
Bill graduated from Murray State College in Tishomingo on May 15, 1975 with a degree in Associate of Applied Science. Bill was of the Baptist faith and served on numerous church committees, as a van driver, deacon and sang in the church choir. He enjoyed working on motors, old cars and bringing abandoned, dead old lawnmowers back to life. His greatest joy was watching and videoing his granddaughter, Sloan playing basketball and softball.
He is survived by his wife Helen McCullough of Tishomingo, Okla., children; Cassandra Slover and husband Monty of Tishomingo, Okla., and Jeff McCullough of Martin, Tenn., one granddaughter Sloan Slover, sister Myra Pitts of Lebanon, Okla., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, daughter in-law; Desiree’ McCullough, and three brothers; Skeet, John and Dennis McCullough.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Johnston County Reaching Out, Po Box 773, Tishomingo, Ok 73460
Visitation was held Sunday, March 14, 2021 at the Watts Funeral Home from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a family hour from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Service wa Monday, March 15, 2021 at 2:00 a.m. at the Watts Memorial Chapel in Madill, Okla. Joey Lansdale officiated the service. Interment wa at the Woodberry-Forest Cemetery in Madill, Okla. Services we under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
Casket Bearers were Homer Joe Ross, Cecil Underwood, Wayne Newman, Steve Carr. Josh Rorex and Marty Slover.