Eldon Walker McCumber

Eldon Walker McCumber was born on February 13th,1928 and died peacefully at his home in Hinton on March 26th, 2022 at the age of 94.His wife of 74 years, Donna Mae, and youngest son, Steven, were at his side.

It is always difficult attempting to sum a life, but never more so than when a person commits themselves to loving and serving so many for so long. Foremost amongst those who had the pleasure of loving and being loved by Eldon is his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Donna Mae. Surprisingly, their first date together ended with an overturned car crash into a canyon (Eldon would want it pointed it out that neither he nor Donna Mae were driving), but, miraculously, no one was hurt. Eldon, though, was understandably worried he might have ruined his chances at being allowed a second date. Thankfully, they dated a further three years and, after graduating from Hinton High as the President of his Senior Class,were married in 1948 at a ceremony that required the legal blessing of Eldon’s mother as he was too young under state law to give himself away.When Eldon and Donna Mae were in high school, they once gathered a jarful of lightning bugs, went to the movies, and released them into the dark theater creating an indoor blanket of flickering stars; a harmless prank for a couple of kids setting off on a lifelong love story, but also a fitting opening scene for a couple who would carry their own romance, their own intimate night sky, their own sense of companionship and fun within their marriage for74 years.

Eldon initially worked as a mechanic and then as a roughneck before moving to OKC to work for the Department of Public Safety as a Driver’s License Examiner. He served on the Oklahoma City Police force for several years as motorcycle cop and then a Safety Education Officer. Prior to their move to OKC, Donna Mae gave birth to the first of their two beloved sons, Rick in 1951 and then later Steven in 1955 in OKC. Near the end of the 50’s, Eldon decided he’d like to be in business for himself, so they packed up their family and moved back to Hinton where he and Donna Mae ran the successful Hinton Auto Parts Store until retirement.

Over the six decades they resided there, Eldon gave thousands of hours of service to the town and people of Hinton. He was an Elder and Sunday school teacher at the First Christian Church for over 50 years. He served in the Fire Department, on the Chamber of Commerce, City Council, Cemetery Board, and Fair Board. He was a founding member of the Hinton Economic Development Authority and was Chairmen of the Automotive Wholesalers of Oklahoma. He was an active member of Kiwanis serving as President and Lieutenant Governor and on the Rodeo Committee. The list of institutions, charities, community organizations, boards, and committees Eldon served over his long life is only dwarfed by the number of individual people and families he quietly helped, supported, and loved.

Eldon’s faith in a God who serves and loves unceasingly allowed him to model that kind of service and love for not only his own family and friends, but all those who shared a community with him. His absence will be felt deeply and he will be so very missed.

Eldon is preceded in death by his parents, Edd and Myrtle McCumber, his two brothers and their wives, Jim and Jerry McCumber and Don and Bert McCumber. He is survived by his wife Donna Mae, his two sons and their wives, Rick and Kayte McCumber and Steven and Nancy McCumber, several nieces and nephews, 7 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 3 more great-grandchildren on the way.

Services will be held at 10 A.M. at the First Christian Church in Hinton on Friday, April 1st. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Christian Church.