Claude Benjamin Hutchins

Claude Benjamin “C.B.” Hutchins was born to Roy and Tressa (Vonschriltz) Hutchins on May 15, 1931, in Woodward, Oklahoma. He was the 5th of 7 children and was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Leona, Margaret, Hazel, and Joy, and his brothers Jim and Dean.

C.B. joined the United States Navy in 1952 during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1956, after which he served an additional 4 years of inactive duty. Following his discharge, he met Charlie Mae Lee and they married on October 13, 1956. They welcomed Sherri in 1961 and Tina in 1963.

C.B. was born to drive big trucks and he was good at it. The man could back a 40-foot trailer into the narrowest of spaces on the first shot. He tried various other jobs, but always ended up back in the cab of a semi headed out across the country. He drove for TG&Y for 22 years and worked another 10 years for Yellow Freight, finally retiring from the road in 1996.

Claude loved sports. He could shoot pool like a shark. He was a devoted Dallas Cowboy fan and watched the very first game they ever played and most of games after that. He started playing golf in his late 30s and played up into his early 80s. After he retired from trucking, he cleverly got a part time job at John Conrad Golf Course in Midwest City, a job that just happened to offer the perk of free golf play which he took full advantage of for the 9 years he was there. He accomplished the illusive hole-in-one and even set a course record at Firelake Golf Course in Shawnee. Claude had a strong competitive streak and took GREAT pride in being able to say that he had bested most of his opponents, including many of his nephews. On those occasions when it happened, he accepted defeat with grace, but he really, really loved winning.

Claude was a generous man with a big heart and a bigger personality who would walk a block to save a nickel, but give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He enjoyed a good argument, Hank Williams music, and his recliner. He worked long hard hours to provide for his family, but somehow managed to be at every single one of his daughter’s basketball games – sometimes exhausted and smelling like diesel, but always there. He never walked through a door in front of a woman in his life and he ended every phone conversation with his girls by saying “I love you.”

Claude is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Charlie Mae, daughter Sherri Hutchins, and daughter Tina Lewis and her husband Christopher, as well as many dear extended family members and friends. He was loved by many, disliked by some, but never ever forgotten by anyone. He was a force and he will be missed.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation, https://alzfdn.org/.

A visitation for Claude will be held Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, 8805 NE 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73141. A graveside will occur Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Oakdale Cemetery, 1st Street, Paden, OK 74860.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eisenhourfuneralhome.com for the Hutchins family.