Burrel Gambel

Memorial service for Burrel Gambel will be held at 11am on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church.  A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Burrel died on May 26, 2025 at age 104.  He was born in Lindsay, Oklahoma in 1921 to Charles O. and Opal A. Gambel.  The family soon moved to El Reno where Burrel grew up, graduated from high school and junior college and learned to fly.  He also met (6 ^th grade) and later married Laura Virginia Trotter.  They were married 62 years until her death in 2005.  He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941, becoming an instructor pilot and eventually accrued almost 10,000 pilot hours over a 30 year Air Force career, mostly in bombers.  Burrel and Laura raised three children as an Air Force family and retired to Chickasha in 1971.  Burrel became an active member of the Presbyterian Church and participated in a number of civic affairs including mobile meals, Redlands Community College, and the Festival of Light.  His three passions were barbershop quartet singing, fishing, and raising orchids.

Burrel was preceded in death by his parents, wife Laura, brother Byron, and long time friend Irene Park.

He is survived by his three children Patricia Hays (Clint), Kathleen Ratliff (Larry), and Richard Gambel (Stephanie); three grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

The family would like to extend special thanks to friends and caregivers, especially Becky Lambert, Sherry Patterson, Judi and Nick Atkins, Rose Woods and her wonderful care team including Renee, Sherrie, Emma, Shaylea, Rachel, and James, and Joseph McClendon III.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trotter/Gambel Endowed Scholarship at Redlands Community College, 1300 S. Country Club Road, El Reno, OK 73036.

Cremation and services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home