Theodore “Ted” Willard Oney, Jr. December 7, 1929 - October 14, 2022

Theodore Willard Oney, Jr “Poppi” was born on December 7, 1929 to Theodore Willard Oney, Sr and Helen Marie Rodesney Oney at St. Anthony Hospital and lived his entire life in Oklahoma City. He was an only child and was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Helen Rodesney Oney, paternal Grandparents who were early Oklahoma Settlers, John and Caroline Zingre Oney, and maternal Grandparents Charles and Marie Pribyl Rodesney. He attended Oklahoma City schools and graduated from Central High School in 1947. He then entered the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Antietam & the USS Boxer Aircraft Carriers. He was discharged in August of 1949. He was once again called to active duty in August of 1950 and served aboard the USS Chemung AO-30. He was honorably discharged in August 1952 and enrolled in Oklahoma City University, where was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, completing his Bachelor of Science degree in 1956.
Ted worked for Union Carbide Corporation for 18 years as a District Representative. He later started his own company, Professional Salesmen of the Southwest, located in Garland, Texas. His company represented many automotive lines throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana. Ted retired, selling his company, at age 56 and pursued his lifetime love of working on anything that ran on gasoline. He loved raced cars, dragsters, go-carts, and Cushman Motor Scooters as these were staples of his youth. He later started collecting and restoring vintage automobiles (pre-1915), amassing an impressive collection. Ted’s dedication and love of cars continued until his death on October 14, 2022.
Ted met Frances Elaine McMillan, the “love of his life” when he was 17 years of age and she was 14. After a 9 year courtship, they were married at University Place Christian Church on September 22, 1956 in Oklahoma City and have celebrated 66 happy years of marriage. Ted and Frances loved traveling together, especially on cruises with their children and grandchildren, traveling to many foreign countries. They have even shipped their 1904 Cadillac to London in order to drive it on the “London to Brighton” tour in 1981. But their beloved mountain home in Cuchara, Colorado, is where they spent their summers with friends and family. Their union was blessed with a son, Matthew Kane Oney with wife Dara McClatchey Oney, and one daughter, Tina Oney Burnett with husband Steve Burnett, and three wonderful grandchildren Mattison Marie Oney, Caroline Burnett Whittle, and Taylor Addison Burnett.
Ted was a loving, kind, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who was totally dedicated to his family. He was a proud and patriotic man, who was both fun-loving and ornery. He was truly “one of a kind” and will be missed by all who loved him. We would like to thank his wonderful caregivers at Veraden Senior Living in Edmond, Oklahoma and Choice Hospice.
Please join us in celebrating Ted’s life at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 29th at Ted & Matt Oney’s Collection, 10021 N. Sooner Road, OKC, OK 73151. If possible please wear something blue in honor of Ted’s favorite color.