Final Salute

James (Jim) Edmond Randol, 81 of Purcell, Passed away Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Norman Regional Hospital. Jim was born November 5, 1944 in Pauls Valley Oklahoma, The first of 2 sons born to James Maston Randol and Modine Lozell (Potter) Randol. He was raised mainly in Pauls Valley, attending school mainly there and graduating from Pauls Valley High School in 1963. Attending East Central University in the fall of 1963 then transferring to University of Oklahoma in Norman for the Spring Semester of 1964. After that semester he went to work for his father in a Sinclair Service Station in Pauls Valley. Later that year he worked for Kerr McKee on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Then in January 1965 he went to work for Western Electric Corp in Oklahoma City.

In August 1965 he enlisted in the United States Air Force serving after boot camp and Tech School at Charleston AFB, South Carolina and Lajes Field AFB, Azores then January1968 McChord AFB, Washington.

While in the Azores his best friend and room mate introduced him to a sister, Grace Martha Haab of Ann Arbor, Michigan via the mail. They wrote each other for about 14 months then finally met in January 1968 and were around each other for a total of 4 days then Jim went to McChord AFB while continuing to write Grace. In August 1968 he took leave to Ann Arbor, Michigan for 4 days and while there he proposed to Grace. They were married on January 4th, 1969 in Ann Arbor. They remained married for 52 years, 8 months & 14 days until her death on September 18, 2021.

After the Air Force they moved to Norman, OK where Jim re-entered OU for the fall semester 1969 and went back to work at Western Electric on 2nd shift. In December 1969 Jim joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard where he changed to an Aircraft Loadmaster and was an air crew member on the C124 aircraft and remained with the Air Guard until December 1972. In the mean time Jim graduated from OU in the spring of 1973 with an Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree. After graduation Jim entered Graduate School and spent the summer taking classes at OU while expecting his and Grace’s first child, Mary Rose Randol, who was born on August 4th, 1973.

In August 1973 Jim went to work for Texas Instruments of Dallas, TX. Where he remained until January 1993 as well as joining the United States Navy in June 1976 and was assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 4 as an electronic tech. After four years assigned to that Squadron in San Diego, California he went into the Navy reserve program in Dallas, Texas as well as returning to Texas Instruments, INC in 1980. He continued there until 1993.
He then went to work for the United States Navy as a Contingency Engineer in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He remained there until retirement on October 1, 2004. While in Hawaii and a Civil Engineer in the Navy Reserve he achieved the Rank of Navy Captain in 2000.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Grace Martha (Haab) Randol, His Parents James M and Modine L Randol, His Parents-in-Law John and Selma Haab of Ann Arbor, MI and sister-in-law Mary Erna Shellenberger of Freemont, Indiana.

He is survived by Daughters Mary Rose (Randol) Webb (Todd Wayne), Kathryn Ann (Randol) Holder (Joshua Eric Thomas), Son James Michael Randol (Tara Jean) 6 Grandsons Cody Thomas Webb, Brett Wayne Webb (Johnna Alexi Webb), Dalton Dean Holder, Brody James Holder, Michael James Randol & Andrew Scott Randol, 6 Great Grand Children, Lane Rhett Webb, Tripp Thomas Webb & Baker Wayne Webb, Karter Jae Foreman, Legend Wayne Webb, Toby Allen Webb and another Great Grand Boy on the way, as well as a Brother Kenneth Lewis Randol of Hockley, Texas and his Brother-in-Law (Michael George Haab (Linda)) of Ann Arbor, MI & several nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 am Friday November 14, 2025 at Little’s Chapel, Wilson-Little Purcell with burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley.