Francis L. "FLO" Okuly

Francis L. “FLO” Okuly, age 88, of Huntington, died at 10:04 p.m. Saturday (July 25, 2009) at the St. Joseph Hospital in Ft. Wayne. Francis was born in Auburn on June 14, 1921 to William and Mary (Karst) Okuly. He served in the United States Army during WW II as a Corporal and awarded four bronze stars and one bronze star medal for the European Theater Conflict. On November 11, 1998, the Huntington County Commissioners awarded Francis with a Normandy Medal, on behalf of the government of France for his participation in the Normandy Invasion. After his return from the war, Francis married Evelyn L. “Suze” Orr on February 18, 1946, in Roanoke, and she preceded him in death on April 1, 2008. Francis retired in 1983 as co-owner of Okuly Service doing sheet metal work, heating and cooling, and roofing from 1952 – 1983. Prior to that, he worked for Hart McNulty Sheet Metal in Huntington. He was a member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post # 2689 and the Roanoke American Legion Post #160. Survivors include four sons – Robert L. Okuly of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Thomas L. (Teresa) Okuly of Huntington, Mark P. Okuly of Andrews and Andrew W. (Tracy) Okuly of Huntington; three daughters – Charlene S. (Ron) Howard of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rhonda L. (Charles) Thweatt of Huntington and Laura L. (Ken) Murphy of Huntington; two brothers – James (Betty Lou) Okuly of Saginaw, Michigan and Paul (Pat) Okuly of Huntington; one sister – Arnetta (Roy) Hasty of Ft. Wayne; twenty-eight grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. His parents and brothers – Joseph Okuly, Bernard Okuly and Gene Okuly, preceded him in death. Visitation will be from 3 – 7 p.m. Wednesday (July 29, 2009) at Bailey-Love Mortuary with the Rosary Recitation following at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday (July 30, 2009) at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 860 Cherry Street, Huntington with Father Ron Rieder officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery with the V.F.W. Post #2689 performing the military graveside rites. Memorials may be made to Donor’s Choice in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, IN 46750.

Francis L. "FLO" Okuly

June 14, 1921 - July 25, 2009