Billy Frank Erkin, 89, of McAlester, passed away Monday, July 22, in McAlester. The family will welcome friends for visitation on Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Graveside funeral services are Friday, July 26, at 3:00 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery.  Honorary pallbearers include Lance Hess, Clem Peppers, Jim Reimer, Jim Mercer, Derryl Cantrell and members of masonic District 27.

Bill was born on May 4, 1935 in McAlester to Harvey Franklin and Rubye Irene (Clark) Erkin. He grew up in Indianola and McAlester, attending Indianola school until 1951, then transferred to McAlester, graduating from McAlester High School in 1953. He attended Eastern State College, then the University of Oklahoma. He served in the U. S. Air Force from 1954 to 1962 as an AeroMedical Evacuation Specialist in Japan, Korea, Okinawa, the Philippines, Formosa, Patrick AFB in Florida and Brookley AFB in Alabama, receiving his honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant. Billy married Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Johnson on Feb. 25, 1966, and they made their home in McAlester. Billy worked at Rockwell International/Boeing, retiring as Supervisor of Quality Assurance. He was a certified Quality Engineer and certified Quality Auditor, and was a former member of the American Society for Quality Control and past Chairman of the Tulsa Section 1409. Bill was also a Past Master of the McAlester Masonic Lodge #9 and South McAlester Lodge #96, and was a 33rd degree Mason of the McAlester Scottish Rite.

Bill is survived by a daughter, Kelly Thomas and her son, Chance Thomas and wife Chasidee and their daughter, Sophie, (with Ally due in August); 2 sons, David Michael Erkin and James Erkin; a sister, Laura Trimm; a brother, David Ercanbrack and wife Kathy; a sister-in-law, Linda Holcomb and husband Thomas; a brother-in-law, Andy Johnson; nieces and nephews, Casey Ann Collier, Kim Sanders and husband Robbie, Phillip Trimm, Scott and Megumi Kanasugi; and a great niece, Cheyenne Buesing and husband Kyler, and their daughter, Ember.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 2014; his parents; a brother, Warren Erkin; and his first wife, Juanita Christine (Carnes) Erkin.