A come-and-go Celebration of Life for Dennis Wayne Claflin, Sr., 76, of Ninnekah, will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Ferguson Funeral Home. It will be a time to gather, give honor and share memories of Dennis with the family.
Dennis Wayne Claflin was born December 31, 1946 in Enid, Oklahoma to Homer Merle Claflin and Clara Audine (Sulzberger) Claflin. He passed from this life on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Dennis grew up in Wakita on the family farm. He graduated from Wakita High School in 1964 then joined the United States Navy, serving from December 1966 until November 1969.
On February 23, 1968, he married Natasha Tarabanchuk and they shared 55 years together, raising twin girls, Deana and Denise, and a son Dennis, Jr.
When the twins were little and while he was still farming full-time, he began attending Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and worked hard to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. After Dennis, Jr. was born in 1976, he began working in the oilfield and worked his way up to foreman. Around 2001, he started doing independent contracting and retired full-time in 2014.
Dennis was a simple man, who was witty and a jokester, pulling pranks on the kids and grandkids. He was a hard worker and a good provider for his family. He was a great family man and gave of himself to those he loved. Family was important to him. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by both parents and a brother, R.C. Claflin.
Loved ones left to remember him are his wife Natasha of the home; twin daughters Deana Nelson and husband Richard of Bakersfield, California and Denise DeLeon of Ninnekah; son Dennis Wayne Claflin, Jr. of Ninnekah; brother Bill Claflin and wife Doris of Wakita; grandchildren Shayla DeLeon, Daniel DeLeon, Kaden Claflin, and Schellie Null; and other extended family and friends.
The Celebration of Life and cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.