John Bond's Funeral

Obituary

John Wallace Bond, Sr., of Ochelata, OK, passed away, at home with family and his faithful dog, Lucky, by his side, on Monday evening, October 10, 2022, at the age of 87.

John was born on October 11, 1934 in Thackerville, OK, to Dean Joel Bond and Pearl (Koons) Bond. The oldest of three children, John was raised in Love County, OK, until moving to Bartlesville, OK, shortly after the death of his father in 1941. He attended Central Junior High and graduated from College High School in 1953. John also attended Central Christian College, Coffeyville Junior College and the University of Tulsa.

On July 21, 1953, John married Alta Griggs and they made their home in Bartlesville until moving to rural Ochelata in 1969. He worked for Cities Service Oil Co., primarily in fleet services, his entire career. Before the company relocated from Bartlesville to Tulsa in 1968, John worked in the company vehicle maintenance garage and as a chauffeur. Over the next 20 years, he commuted daily from his farm in Ochelata to his Fleet Services position in downtown Tulsa. He operated a carpool for other Cities Service employees in the Ochelata and Ramona areas until the company was acquired by Occidental Petroleum in 1982.

John also enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and served from 1953-1982. He retired at the First Sergeant rank.

Following his retirement from Occidental Petroleum, he worked several short-term jobs before starting his own bookkeeping and tax service. He enjoyed helping individuals and small businesses maintain their books and file income taxes. John also devoted time to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program in Washington County assisting the elderly and other qualified individuals with tax return preparation.

His main hobby was farming. Throughout the years, he raised cattle, hogs, chickens and horses, in addition to crops such as alfalfa, corn and milo. John’s work ethic was admirable; he could rise early, drive to and from Tulsa for work, then labor on the farm until late evening enjoying every minute of the day. Seldom was he happier than when he was sitting in the seat of a tractor. As a father, he supported every endeavor of his sons and as a Papa, loved to spoil all his grandchildren. He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Pearl; sister, Meryl Dean Bond; and his first wife, Alta. He is survived by his current wife, Earlene; sons, John W. (Jay) Bond Jr., and wife, Carol, of Ochelata, Vernon Bond and his wife, Mari, of Ochelata and Terry Bond and wife, Cheryl, of Edmond. In addition, he leaves behind seven grandchildren, Justin Bond, Jessica Tennant and husband, Jason, Daniel Bond and wife, Katera, Kenny Bond, Natalie Bond, Paige Bond and Sheridan Fuller and husband, Tripp. Three great granddaughters will miss their Papa John, Emersyn Bond, Josephine Bond and Payton Bond. Also, two siblings, sister, Beryl (Jean) Bond; and brother, Russ Dameron; two nieces; and two nephews.

Song: Old Rugged Cross

Song: Amazing Grace

Introduction

Greetings…

We are gathered today on this both “heartbreaking” and “heartwarming” day.

Heartbreaking because we have all lost a dear man in brother John Bond.

Heartwarming because we all know the life John led and the faith he would show others “by his works” in his Christian walk.

We are gathered here to remember a great man in brother John Bond...

To remember a son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

There are two things, during these very difficult times I strive to remind family of.

The first thing I want you to never forget is…

You Are Not Alone

The phone calls, text messages, cards, and all those here today demonstrate you are well blessed with people that care for you, love you, and are here for “you.”

This challenging time is when you need to rely on each other and those here you care deeply for you.

Take advantage of all the family that has come in and tell of all the great stories each has about John.

About his constant smile or contagious laugh.

Or his fearless activities like the ski jump at the lake or taking on large bulls.

Remember, his love for each of you and the joy he had being with you all..

Take this opportunity to hug, hold, and comfort one another.

However, because of John’s life we must also remember…

There Is Life Beyond This Life

They say we preach our own funeral with each passing day we live.

That funerals are only a reflection of that life lived.

In John’s case he has made my job, this afternoon, easy by the sermon he preached in his life especially in light of what we find in Revelation 14:13.

Revelation 14:13 ESV

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

This verse should bring everyone that knew John great comfort for two reasons.

First, because of the word “rest” that is mentioned here.

This physical life is hard work, it’s a wearing toil day after day.

There are difficulties, disappointments, disease and so much more.

This is why the word rest is so powerful from God here in Revelation 14:13.

The time came for our dear John to lay down his burden and to be at rest..

This word “rest” here means, “to be at ease, to be refreshed” and suggests an end to the toils and tribulations of this life.

This is at the heart of what Jesus was saying in Matthew 11:28-30…

Matthew 11:28–29 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

We can have confidence that our John is resting from his labors...

Secondly, we learn from Revelation 14:13 that “their deeds follow them.”

As I mentioned earlier we are all making a record on earth (preaching our funeral) that we will carry over from this life to the next.

We do this by the lives we live, the words we say, the deeds we do.

For those like John this is a very good thing because God reminds us “our deeds follow us.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Conclusion

As we go through this difficult day let us never lose sight that if we are living for God and according to his “holy word” we are, as the apostle Paul would put it in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “not like those without hope.”

Why, because we know “how blessed it is to die in the Lord.”

Will you bow with me…

Father as we come before you this day I pray you will be with the family and comfort them in ways that only you can and that you will give each of us that are here the wisdom we need to be a comfort and encouragement to them as well. We pray that you will help them to remember all the good times and great memories they have stored about John and this will be a comfort as well in the coming days. Father, we thank you most importantly for sending your precious Son to this earth to take on our sins so that we can rejoice at Brother Bonds death as you do. I also pray that you give us each the wisdom and strength we need to continue to put you first in our lives so that we can see our dear brother Bond again one day. We love you Father and praise your holy name, and it’s through your Son’s name we pray, amen..

Song: In The Garden

Closing Prayer: Mark Moses

Closing Remarks: Landon Rowell

The family would like to thank everyone for coming this afternoon to celebrate John’s life.

Here in just a moment we will be heading to the Ramona cemetery for the graveside service and all are welcome.

Graveside Service

In Job 19:25-27 we read…

Job 19:25–27 ESV

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

If ever a man knew the joys and the trials of life it was brother John Bond.

He certainly had his ups and downs, his joys and heartaches.

Yet as we are gathered here at this site, you and I know he is no longer really here.

Because, like Job, John knew that “his Redeemer lives” and he has now “seen God.”

For the child of God who has prepared their entire Christian life for that moment there can be no greater joy than to hear the words from their Redeemer, “well done good and faithful servant.”

John was indeed that, a good and faithful servant, which means we are must remember what king David said after the passing of his son, “Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him…”

There is no doubt that John would want each of us to be in Abraham’s bosom and then heaven.

Let us then prepare in this life for the next to see all the faithful and live an eternity with our Creator, our Father, our God.

Will you bow with me now.

Father, we know what you have said and the joy you have when one of your faithful receives their crown of victory.

And Father I pray that the family here is comforted with that truth and that comfort that comes from knowing we can see our faithful fallen again one day.

Father I ask again that you place you hand of comfort on each person this day and the coming days and know that you are near.

Be with John’s remaining family and friends here on earth and it’s through your Son’s holy and righteous name I pray, amen..