Funeral service for Melvin Ralph Stokes, age 79, of Altus, Oklahoma, will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2014, at the Tesca Baptist Church, Frederick, Oklahoma with Rev. Les Banks and Rev. Ronnie Morgan officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Frederick Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home. Mr. Stokes passed away Thursday,October 23, 2014 in an Oklahoma City hospital. Mr. Stokes was born on January 16, 1935, to Walter C. Stokes and Mary C. (Caldwell) Stokes, in Telephone, Texas. He graduated from Weaver High School and then continued his education at Western Oklahoma State College. He received his Bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University. He married Dorothy Chesser on August 16, 1955 in Oklahoma City. He served honorably in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1975. He was a Vietnam Vet and served with the Military Police. After retiring from the military, he became Director for the Master Program at Webster University, Altus Air Force Base and Fort Sill, Lawton, for 27 years. His family was his passion. He was a member of Tesca Baptist Church, Frederick. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; one son, Gregory Stokes of Houston, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Karen Hawthorne and her husband David of Altus, Oklahoma;one son-in-law, John Hughes of Mesquite, Texas; two brothers and sister-in-law, Clarence Stokes and Nina of Tacoma, Washington; James E. Stokes of Olympia, Washington; grandchildren; Kyle Hawthorne and his wife Mindy of Altus, Oklahoma; Melanie Baines of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Adam Hawthorne and wife Ashley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Morgan Carroll and husband JoDan of Altus, Oklahoma; Jon Michael Hughes and wife Carrie of Elgin, Oklahoma; Jay Hughes and wife Katie of Hoisington, Kansas; Jacen Hughes and wife Becca of Battle Creek, Michigan; Jennifer Blackford and husband, James of Lequire, Oklahoma; and nineteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Kimberly Jeannette Stokes Hughes, three brothers, Tom Stokes, Robert Stokes and LeRoy Stokes, two sister, Ollie Mae (Pete) Allen and Dollie Stokes. The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 26, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Jackson Funeral Home, Frederick. Jackson Funeral Home 580-335-7447 Frederick, Oklahoma