Elliott Fenton

Elliott Fenton, age 101, of Oklahoma City passed away peacefully on December 14, 2015. Born November 26, 1914 in Oklahoma City, he attended public schools until high school when his family moved to Kansas City, MO. He attended junior college for two years then returned to Oklahoma and received a law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1937. He served in the Navy during World War II on an attack transport, the U.S.S. Sheridan, as an Ensign. His ship participated in 6 different invasion campaigns. Elliott received the Bronze Star with Combat V and retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Commander. After the war, he and his father, Edgar Fenton, started a law firm in Oklahoma City. They practiced law together for over 30 years, growing their practice to over 50 employees as the firm of Fenton, Fenton, Smith, Reneau and Moon. Elliott retired after practicing law for 63 years and remained "of counsel" for several years. He was one of the attorneys for a very famous case that went to the Supreme Court and was later made into a film. In the 1950's, he was one of 8 attorneys in the state to organize the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel and was it's 2nd president. He was also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and received the Journal Record Award in 1999 for service to the community and to the legal profession. He was a member and former president of the Downtown Optimist Club and worked with the Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma and was on the Board of Directors there. Elliott was a trustee of The Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, serving as chancellor, vice-chairman and chairman. He was also a founder and former member of the Board of Directors of Epworth Villa and worked with the Alzheimer's Care and Study Center there. The Epworth Library is named for him. Elliott was an active member for over 60 years at Wesley United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City as a lay leader and Sunday school teacher. He was a member of Church of the Servant for the last several years. Elliott was a loving husband for 63 years to LeNoir Massey Fenton until she passed away in 2002 and Lu Simpson Fenton for 13 years until she passed away last month. He was a devoted father to Mike Fenton (wife Nancy) of Waxahachie, Texas, and Ann Fenton Wallis (husband David) of Marco Island, Florida, and grandfather to five grandchildren: Cy Fenton (wife Amy), Peggy Fenton Linquist (husband David), Todd Wallis (wife Erica), Stephen Wallis (wife Alexandra), Beth Wallis Quevli (husband Bryan) and great-grandfather to 11: Elliott Fenton (wife Veronica), George Fenton, Henry Fenton, Emma Fenton, Connor Linquist, Sam Linquist, Matthew Wallis, Abigail Wallis, Zoe Quevli, Anna Quevli and Elliott Wallis. A memorial service will be held in the Brill Chapel at Epworth Villa on Wednesday, December 16, at 2PM. There will be an ice cream buffet available after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to The Servant Foundation at Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73142.