Melvin Harold Lunsford

Graveside service for Melvin "BoJack" Lunsford will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Nowata. Pastor Graydon Croyle will officiate.

The son of William Gordon and Elva Hewitt Lunsford was born December 2, 1938 in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was raised in Nowata, and attended Nowata Schools. After high school he enlisted in the United States Navy. Upon his discharge he returned to Oklahoma. He then made his way to Texas where he began working in the oil fields. With work becoming scarce, Melvin joined the United States Army. The Army trained him as a military police and stationed him at the United States Military Academy, at West Point. December 10, 1963 he completed his service and was discharged. He decided to go to Los Angeles, California. It was there that he met and married Alice Mae Frank.. He also enrolled in the L.A Police Department police Academy. In 1984 after 22 years of service he retired from the L.A. Police Department. Wanting to return to Oklahoma, Melvin took a job as the Police Chief of Oologah. When he was off he loved working with Jewelry, so he opened Mels Jewelry. His hobbies included fishing, jewelry working and going to garage sales.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Elva Lunsford, and granddaughter, Ciarra Lunsford.

Survivors include his sons, Eric Lunsford and wife Rachel of Claremore, Daniel Lunsford and wife Gina of Tulsa, and Matthew Lunsford and wife Allison of Keller, Texas; brothers, Curtis Lunsford and wife Nancy of Nowata, Bill Lunsford and wife Shirley of Delaware, Buster Lunsford of Nowata and Eldon Lunsford of Nowata; sisters, Ruth Sherrill and Margaret (Lunsford) Hughes and husband Wayne all of Nowata, and grandchildren, Montana, Ethan, and Evan Lunsford of Claremore, Emma and Jillian Lunsford of Tulsa, and Kelsey Lunsford of Keller, Texas, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.