Vernon Clifford Nolen
Services for Vernon Clifford "Preacher" Nolen, 87, of Langston, formerly of Ada are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Salters Chapel AM E Church, 119 E. Washington in Langston, Rev. Earl Williams, Jr. will officiate; Omega services of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will be Friday, May 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at Salters Chapel AME Church. Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 9th at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada.
Vernon Clifford Nolen was born in Red Springs, OK (Pontotoc County) on November 8, 1928, and he departed this life on Friday, April 29, 2016 after a lengthy illness. He grew up in Ada, OK but resided as an adult in Oklahoma City, Spencer, and Langston. At the time of his death, he resided in the Golden Age Nursing Home, Guthrie. He was a member of Salters Chapel AME Church, Langston.
Nolen attended and graduated from Napier High School, Ada, in 1950 and continued his education at Langston University, majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. While at Langston University, he became a member of Beta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated in 1952. He graduated from Langston University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1954.
Immediately after college graduation, Nolen joined the United States Army on June 25, 1954 and achieved the rank of Specialist 3rd Class and received an Honorable Discharge on June 22, 1956. Nolen often commented, "My Army years were the best two years of my life."
Nolen's career was accounting, and his employment included working at Tinker Air Force Base, the Langston University Business Office and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from which he retired in 2004 after twenty-eight years of service.
Nolen was the father of two daughters, Verna Cassandra Nolen who died at birth in 1957 and Michelle Nolen Nelson (August 19, 1962 to April 22, 2012); and a step-son, Stanley Griffin (January 14, 1951 to October 5, 2002). Additionally, he was preceded in death by his mother, Dealy Townsend Gillispie; his father, Charles Noles; his maternal grandmother, Mary Lucy Townsend; sister, Lois Twiner Williams; brother, Herman Lee Twiner; and his former wife, Mayetta Griffin.
Nolen leaves to mourn his passing and to continue his legacy of academic integrity and genuinely caring for others to his grandchildren, My'Chael Nelson and My'lecia Nelson of Oklahoma City; one great grand-daughter, Makhya Marshall (Oklahoma City); two sisters, Dr. Jo Ann Richardson Clark (Dr. Lester) of Langston , and Pamela Gillispie Birdine (Stillwater); three brothers, Lester Otis Albert (Linda) of Ada, Dave Albert, Jr. (Oklahoma City), and John Terry Gillispie (Skyler) of Stillwater, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.