Bill Lancaster passed away suddenly on May 19, 2023.

He was a man with a larger than life personality, and he never met a stranger.

He was a graduate from Oklahoma State University.  He served as Mayor of Wagoner for 12 years in the 1960's and served in the House of Representatives for District 12 another 13 years into the late 1980's. He was instrumental in bringing the hospital and very good doctors to town, as well as bringing in industry like  Prestolite and updating the roads around the county.

He was a man of action and passions and always had a joke to tell.

He was raised in Wagoner by his parents, Euel and Jessie Mae Lancaster. He was a golden glove boxer and bragged that he even knocked a referee out once. He was the youngest of four kids.

His older brothers, James and Bob have passed away but his sister, Nancy lives in Ada.

Bill and his wife, Jean have been married for a very happy 25 years. She called him her cowboy, and he loved and adored her.

Bill had four kids, Melinda, Jeff, Jesse and Jennifer.

Melinda, who preceded him in death in 2014, had four children, Linsey, Erich, Whitney and Matthew. Linsey lives in Phoenix with her husband Joe and their kids, Carter and Addison. Erich is in Ft. Meyers and Matthew is in Stuart Florida. Whitney passed in 2016.

Jeff Lancaster and his wife, Nancy live in Wagoner with their son, Hunter and his wife Callie and their son, Boone. Their daughter, Cassie lives in Tucker, Georgia with her husband, Nick and their kids, Shiloh, Eli, Judah and Moriah.

Jesse Lancaster and his wife, Dawn live in Marietta, Georgia with their daughters, Courtney and Ben Waivol and Casey and Collin Denhard with their daughter, Lincoln.

Jennifer lives in Charleston, SC with her husband, Michael, who Bill always called the Saint.

Bill took over the day to day running of the Lancaster Agency after his dad passed, and it's been a sense of pride to him everyday. It's a very long standing business in town with close relationships to all who worked there as well as his customers.

He loved to travel, play golf and watch old westerns.

He was respected in the community and loved by so many. He will be missed by everyone.

Bill's life will be celebrated at a funeral service at 2 pm, Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in the Chapel at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner.

Viewing will be Wednesday morning from 10 am until noon.