AJ Vardell

Albert John “AJ” Vardell was born July 25, 1926, in Walters, Oklahoma, to Pleasant Pierce Vardell and Irene South Vardell, and departed this life in Okmulgee, OK, on Sunday morning, September 25, 2016.

After graduation from Walters High School, attendance at Cameron University and working in carpenter maintenance for his father, AJ served his country in three branches of the military.  He enlisted in the Navy on 23 May 1944 serving in San Diego, California, and on the USS Drew, USS Topeka.  He received the WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal- Two Stars, Philippine Liberation (Campaign Medal) and completed his Navy service on 8 June 1946.  He completed a one-year service with the United States Army beginning service at Ft Hood, Texas, on 23 September 1950 and concluded this service in Fort Riley, Kansas, on 14 September 1951.  AJ’s final term of service to his country was with the Oklahoma National Guard beginning on 14 September 1960 in Walters, Oklahoma, and retired as a 1st Sergeant on 30 July 1976 with the following decorations, citations, medals, badges, commendations and campaign ribbons:  Qualification Badge for Rifle M16A1 Expert on 3 April 1976, Governor’s Distinguished Unit Award in 1973, OKGM, OKNGLSM, 100% Drill Attendance Badge, ARNG Recruiting Badge, AFRM and OKCM. 

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, spending time on the lake and camping, riding 3-wheelers, enjoying the great outdoors and wildlife and spending time with family and friends.

AJ is preceded in death by his parents, Pleasant Pierce and Irene South Vardell; 8 brothers and sisters and their spouses, Virgil Pierce Vardell; Charlotte Vardell Shively and her husband, Les; Vesta Vardell Pickett her husband, Robert; Wanda Vardell Price and her husband, Glen; Ramon Paul Vardell; Arvid Ray Vardell, and his wife Pegg; Oneta Vardell Terry and her husband, AF; a sister-in-law, Pat Vardell; and his daughter-in-law, Candace Sue Vardell. 

AJ is survived by a brother, Karol Vardell of Walters; a daughter, Theresa Epp and husband, Michael Epp of Harvest, AL; a son, John Stevens “Steven” Vardell of Boynton, OK; Jeremy Epp, grandson, and Tatiana “Tati” Epp of Madison, AL; Derek Epp, grandson, and Yolanda “Yoey” Epp of Athens, AL; Lauren Mychal Epp, granddaughter, of Birmingham, AL; Courtney Vardell, granddaughter, of Durant, OK; Whitney Vardell Tucker, granddaughter, and Albert Tucker, III, of Warner, OK; Hadley Vardell Smith, granddaughter, and Clint Smith, of Jenks, OK; two sisters-in-law, LaDonna Vardell and Belva Vardell both of Walters; great grandchildren: Teagen Wilkerson, Addison Vardell, Albert “Q” Tucker, Conner Smith, Jake Cueto, Waylon Epp, Reese Epp and Aiden John “AJ” Epp and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

Visitation at the Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home, Walters, OK, will be on Thursday, September the 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Graveside service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 30th, 2016, at the Walters Cemetery.