William Hughes Denyer

William “Bill” Denyer died on February 15, 2026, in Miami, FL, at the age of 95.

Bill was born on August 8, 1930, in Drumright, OK, to Sam and Ida Denyer. Growing up in Drumright, Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an Eagle Scout, played trumpet in the high school marching band, and took his responsibility for milking cows “down in the holler” seriously. Bill graduated from Drumright High School and received a B.S. degree in Forestry from Oklahoma A&M. As part of his forestry training, he spent a summer working as a smokejumper in the Bitterroot Range of Western Montana and Eastern Idaho.

Interested in aviation from an early age, Bill joined the United States Air Force after college and served for twenty years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. While stationed in Greenville, MS, he met and married Air Force nurse 1st Lt. Mignon C. Carter. During their nearly 60-year marriage, they raised two children, William “Bill” and Renee. The family enjoyed trips touring national parks, camping, hunting, fishing, sailing and archery.

After completing pilot training, Bill instructed student pilots in the T-6 Texan, T-28 Trojan, and T-33 “T-Bird.” He then transferred to the Strategic Air Command, flying the B-47 Stratojet, and later piloted and became an instructor in the KC-135 Stratotanker. Before retiring, he earned his M.S. degree from Chapman College.

After retiring from the military, Bill launched a new Air Force Junior ROTC program at the high school in Edmond, Oklahoma. Following his time teaching, Bill returned to flying, first for Williams Pipeline International in Southeastern Nigeria and then for Jet Fleet in Oklahoma City. His twilight career was working as a real estate appraiser for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He enjoyed playing golf and pickleball into his nineties.

Although he was never employed professionally as a forester, Bill did volunteer forestry work for the Air Force while serving in New Hampshire. In 1956, he bought a farm in Monticello, AR, and planted it in loblolly pine. He and his son Bill spent many happy days together working and managing that little forest.

Bill is survived by his son, William Denyer; daughter-in-law Carolina; and their daughter, Natalie, of Miami, FL; and by his daughter, Renee Sharman, of Basye, VA, and her two daughters, Isabelle of Alexandria, VA, and Blaire of London, United Kingdom.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Ida Denyer; his wife, Mignon Denyer; and three older brothers, Samuel, Robert, and John “Jack” Denyer.

Bill served God, country, and family well, and when asked about his life’s success, he would generally reply, “I come from ‘good stock.’”

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Oak Park Cemetery in Chandler, OK. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Breakfast on Boulevard at the First Christian Church of Edmond by following this link: https://www.fccedmond.org/bob