Franklin "Sonny" Floyd Kendrick

Franklin Floyd Kendrick was born January 8, 1949, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As he grew into a rambunctious boy who couldn’t sit still in church, he became known as “Sonny”. He was raised by his loving grandparents, Floyd and Aileen Kendrick, with his brother, Karl. Since Floyd was employed by oil companies that drilled in North Africa and Saudi Arabia, the family spent periods of time living in Libya, Egypt, Saudia Arabia, and Lebanon. During their final stint overseas, when Sonny was a Junior in high school, he met his future wife, Ladean, at the American University Baptist Church in Beirut, Lebanon. They dated until the Kendrick family returned to Oklahoma City in the fall of 1966 when Floyd retired. Sonny completed his senior year and graduated from Capital Hill High School. He attended Oklahoma City University for one year studying vocal music but decided to pursue an associate degree in electronics from OSU Technical School in Okmulgee. Ladean returned to Oklahoma in 1967 to attend Oklahoma State University and Sonny spent many weekends taking his “short-cut” home from Okmulgee to Oklahoma City by way of Stillwater. Ladean and Sonny were married December 27, 1970, just before Sonny graduated in January 1971. After Ladean graduated in May, Sonny took a job with Conoco working with a seismograph crew in Waynesboro, Mississippi, where they lived for 3 years. His crew was transferred to Elk City, Oklahoma, for 6 months, and then to Laredo, Texas for another six months. In the summer of 1974, after being transferred back to Oklahoma, Sonny and Ladean decided it was time to settle down because she was pregnant and they were tired of the nomadic life. Sonny went to work for OG&E in Oklahoma City, and their first son, Dean, was born September 29, 1974. In the spring of 1978, Sonny was offered a position at the new OG&E Sooner Generation Station between Stillwater and Ponca City. He and Ladean decided to settle in Stillwater where they have lived and raised their family. A second son, Micah, was born on September 7, 1982. Sonny worked at the Sooner Station until he retired in 2024. After retiring from OG&E, he worked as a bus driver and then security guard for Stillwater Public Schools. Sonny had a strong faith and was a committed member of the Community of Christ Church. He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing for church, at an occasional wedding or funeral, and with the Stillwater Community Singers. He was also a Jack-of-all trades and could fix almost anything he put his mind to. He loved to tinker and collected a vast array of tools and equipment. He also enjoyed golfing, especially with his sons. Sonny and Ladean loved to travel with their RV’s. They made several wonderful trips over the years and had great plans for when they were both retired. Unfortunately, with failing health, those plans were not realized. Sonny’s health deteriorated rapidly after the death of his son Micah in 2021, and he entered Stillwater Creek Nursing Home in September 2024. He passed away on January 6, two days short of his 77th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, and youngest son. He is survived by his wife, Ladean, eldest son, Dean and his wife, Elizabeth; grandson Kyle and his wife, Jennifer; three great grandchildren, Gavin, Katelynn, and Micah Dean; and daughter-in-law Jodi.