HOUSTON MCGAHA
ADA-Services for James Houston McGaha, 89, of Ada, are 2:00 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Ada, Rev. Harold Ware and Dr. Pat Kilby will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. McGaha died Thursday, April 25, 2013 at a Shawnee hospital. He was born September 15, 1923 in Ada, Oklahoma to Charles Arthur and Elizabeth Norman McGaha. He graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1941 and attended East Central University.
He married Joan Long on May 23, 1942. Mr. McGaha had been employed at Ada Auto, Evergreen Mills, Spann Motor Company and Bonar Auto Supply prior to being elected as the Pontotoc County Clerk. He served from January 6, 1975 until retiring March, 1986. Mr. McGaha was an active member of the First Baptist Church for over 70 years. He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps in the 8th Air Force. In April 1944, on a mission to Berlin the B17 he was flying in was shot down. He was a Prisoner of War in Germany. He received the Air Combat Medal, the Purple Heart and POW medals.
Even though he was mild mannered and not temper-mental, he was a great practical joker.
Survivors include his wife, Joan, of the home; two daughters, Judy Hagar and husband Bill and Mollye Haney and husband Tom, both of Ada; two sons, Mike McGaha and wife Linda, Ada, and Paul McGaha and wife Zelia of Tyler, TX; 13 grandchildren, Mark Hagar, Jill Danielson, Brett Hagar, Clint McGaha, Matt McGaha, Jeff McGaha, Luke Haney, Bethany McGaha, Paul McGaha II, Jacob McGaha, Jessica McGaha, Anne McGaha and Megan McGaha; and 10 great grandchildren.
Bearers will be his grandsons, Mark Hagar, Brett Hagar, Clint McGaha, Matt McGaha, Jeff McGaha, Luke Haney, Paul McGaha II, and Jacob McGaha.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada