John August Erbin, Jr.

John August Erbin, Jr. was born on October 4, 1923, in Harrah, OK, to John A. Erbin Sr., and Bonnie Baxter Erbin. He departed this life February 25, 2007. John married Corene C. Bacon. They both graduated from Harrah High School and were married May 24, 1944. The couple raised one son, Donald Wayne, born November 16, 1946, plus several foster children from Baptist Boys Ranch, Edmond and from juvenile court, Oklahoma City. One young man was a local individual who needed a place to live during the last year or two of high school when his mother moved to Germany with his stepfather. Dennis Frank Robinson still lives in the Oklahoma City area. Don married Karen Stewart, August 14, 1971. Karen and Don have two boys- Jason born October 26, 1976, and Brian, born July 16, 1979. Brian married Janean Leatherbury, June 10, 2006. John, Corene, Don, Karen, Jason and Brian have all graduated from Harrah High School. All of the preceding except Corene attended their entire school career in Harrah Schools. John was one of those students attending school when the school burned in March of 1931, while he was in the 2nd grade. Corene and John lived their entire married life in the Harrah community. John and Corene were active in the Harrah Round-Up Club while Don was in school. They were also active in Harrah First Baptist Church. John, or Junior as many called him, had worked as a farmer, truck driver, and as a siding applicator. In the 40?s, John and Corene began working in the State Fair Concession business. John has been affectionately known as Popcorn by what seemed to be half of Oklahoma City and everybody at the State Fair. Many people from Harrah worked in their stands over the years. At the 1997 fair the year after he had sold the fair concessions, John worked every day for one of his friends just to help out. Old habits are hard to break after 50 some years. John and Corene were still residing on the land purchased by John?s father in approximately 1950. They enjoy watching their grandsons grow plus discussing memories with family and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, Bonnie and John Erbin, Sr., and one sister, Dorothy Sparkman. He was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Melvin and Bill Bacon. He leaves behind his wife, Corene, of the home; a son, Don and his wife Karen; two grandsons, Jason and Virginia and Brian and his wife, Janean; brother and sisters-in-law and their spouses, Melton and Kathy Bacon, Betty and Oren Northcutt. He will also be missed by numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at the First Baptist Church, Harrah, OK with Rev. Gary Eubanks officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.