Chester 'Bill' Wilson Provines

Chester Wilson (Bill) Provines, 95, of Stroud, Oklahoma, formerly of Davenport, Oklahoma, passed away on Thursday, February 27th, 2020, at Stroud Regional Medical Center.  Bill was born at home on December 19, 1924, in Sumner, Illinois, son of John and Edna (Slunaker) Provines.  He was educated in Sumner, graduating from Sumner High School in 1943.  It was war time, and he went into the United States Army Air Corps in 1943.

When Bill completed his service he settled in California where he met and married the love of his life Dorothy Cleland.  When Bill retired from Empire Container, where he had served for many years as shift supervisor, he made a trip through Oklahoma and liked what he saw.  He and Dorothy settled in Davenport where they lived for thirty years.

While living in Davenport, Bill served eight years on the City Council, part of that time serving as Mayor. One of the keepsakes found in his desk was a collection of letters to Mayor Provines, written by elementary children telling him what they envisioned for the City of Davenport to make it a better place. Bill has treasured these letters for 26 years.

Bill was a golfer and loved to fish.  He was an avid reader, reading around 100 books a year.  He loved to read mysteries, and had a great interest in history, politics, and economics.  Bill had a phenomenal memory and could tell fascinating stories of his long life, from Illinois to the World at war, to California, to Oklahoma.

Preceding him in death were his parents, John and Edna Provines, and his wife Dorothy.  Survivors include his sister Shirley Cox of Moweaqua, Illinois; sister Vannie L. Hickey of Greenville, Illinois; his brother Harold (Pete) and wife Marlene Provines of Lawrenceville, Illinois; stepdaughter Dorothy Earlene and husband Zeh Logie; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bill was a Christian, and he had no fear of death.  On the day of his accident he had a conversation with the administrator of Prairie Point.  She asked him about his longevity, and he told her he had lived a long life, a good life, and he had no desire to live to be 100.

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