Dewey Wendel Portwood

Dewey Wendel Portwood was born December 26, 1930 in Blair, OK and passed away on January 1, 2010 in Oklahoma City, OK. Dewey grew up on the family ranch in central Texas. After his adopted father died, he and his mother returned to Blair, Oklahoma. He graduated from Blair High School in 1948 and moved to Wichita Falls, TX to attend Draughon's Business College. He went to work for Texas Electric Service Company. In 1951 he enlisted in the US Army and served until 1954. While stationed at Camp Rucker, AL in 1951, he married Emilie Kajs. They recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Dewey served in the Army Reserves from 1954 to 1962 and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. He began his career at Tennessee Gas Transmission Co. (later Tenneco Oil Co.) in Wichita Falls, TX as a draftsman and transferred to Oklahoma City in 1962. He began to work in the production department and later as staff Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator. He belonged to several service organizations, especially those connected to environmental health and safety issues. He retired from Tenneco Oil Co. in 1986. He joined the Catholic faith on February 21, 1998. Because he retired at an early age, and with the aid of computers, he did extensive work on the genealogy of the Portwood and Lance families and wrote his autobiography. Dewey enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing golf, woodworking, playing dominoes, and was an avid OSU fan. Most of all, he enjoyed being around his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Aileen (Lance) Deckard, his father, Sam Inglis, his adopted father, Page Portwood, his step-father, Paul Deckard, and a granddaughter, Amelia Muckleroy. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Emilie Portwood, daughters Kathy Seitsinger (Delby) of Ponca City, Lisa Maxson of Oklahoma City, Margaret Muckleroy of Oklahoma City, son, Chris Portwood (Janet) of Oklahoma City, and 6 grandchildren, Cory Maxson, Sam Rogers, Lance Portwood, Lauren Portwood, Jessie Muckleroy, and Lizzie Muckleroy.