Roy David Arian, age 68 of Hominy, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at the Integris Bass Baptist Health Center in Enid, Oklahoma.
He was born November 20, 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio to Harry and Betty (Becker) Arian. Roy Arian graduated from Monrovia High School in 1961, and he later followed that with a Bachelor’s Degree. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1962. He was one of the first to graduate in the class of Physicians Assistant Program conducted at the Baylor University by the U.S. Army. Arian served in the U.S. Army until retiring on May 1983, after 22 years of service with 9 years of that serving as a Physician’s Assistant. He served 3 terms in the Vietnam War from 1966-1971. During his time in the Army, he received the Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 10 Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal Second Class, Five Overseas Service Bars, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon. His rank in the Army was Chief Warrant Officer, Three.
When Arian retired from the Army he worked in private sector service in El Paso, Texas and Farmington, New Mexico in the Veterans Department in Ft. Lyon, Colorado and Kerrville, Texas. He also worked in the Oklahoma State Prison in Helena, Oklahoma and retired in 2007.
On November 11, 1990 Roy Arian married Martha Joan Rider in Las Animas, Colorado. Martha passed away July 7, 2011. They had lived together in Hominy, since 2007.
Roy Arian was a member of Hominy American Legion Post 142. He was known for his American Legion reports in the local paper, the “Hominy News Progress”.
Roy is survived by his step-children: Charles Millard and wife Laura of Maryland, Le Ann Shiplet and husband Mark of Enid, Oklahoma, Isabel Labarbara and husband John of Chicago, and Kathern Schukat. Grandchildren: Charles (Chaz) Millard, David and Joey Labarbara; brother in law Jimmy Thorton and numerous cousins in California and Florida.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and step-daughter Margaret Millard.
Funeral services were held Saturday, November 17, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Hominy with Pastor Mark Formby officiating, and the eulogy was read by Blain Nelson. Fort Sill Honor Guard served as casket bearers, and also gave full military honors at the A.J. Powell Cemetery honorary casket bearer was Blain Nelson. Musical selections for the service were “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Amazing Grace”. Powell Funeral Home was entrusted with the funeral arrangements.