Oscar Paul Lytton

Oscar Paul Lytton, formally of Mesilla Park, New Mexico peacefully passed into eternal life on June 10, 2014, in Odessa, Texas. He is survived by his wife of almost 64 years, Sherrie Lytton, currently of Odessa, Texas, his son Don Lytton and wife Kim of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and his daughter Sharon Roquemore and husband Wendell of Odessa, Texas. He was preceded in death by his other son Ed Lytton. Oscar will be missed and remembered also by six grandchildren and their spouses; Jenell and David Sutherland of Marykirk, Scotland, Marshall and Christon Roquemore of Rapid City, South Dakota, Alison Lytton of New York City, New York, Melissa and Micah Donohue of State College, Pennsylvania, and Tim and Chris Lytton of Las Cruces, New Mexico .Oscar is also survived by two great grandchildren McKenzie Sutherland and Elliot Donohue. Oscar was born in El Paso, Texas, on August 26, 1924. He grew up in Mesilla Park, New Mexico and spent his whole life in the area except during his military service. Oscar was a member of “America’s Greatest Generation”, having served in the U. S Marine Corp in WWII. His area of service was in the South Pacific where he was a part of the American re-capture of Japanese occupied islands throughout the region. Oscar almost missed the action however, when he contracted meningitis while stationed in Hawaii awaiting deployment. He was saved and restored to health by a new miracle drug that was just making its debut and becoming commonly used; penicillin. Oscar was honorably discharged in 1946 and was given a travel stipend of five cents per mile to return home to the Mesilla Valley in southern New Mexico. After returning from war Oscar enrolled in an engineering program in the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Engineering, now known as NMSU. In addition to obtaining an education, Oscar met this future wife, Sherrie Lee Bailey. After graduation, Oscar and Sherrie were married in 1950 and made Mesilla Park their home for the next 55 years. Oscar spent many years farming in the Mesilla Valley where he was primarily involved in the production of cotton and pecans. As have many farmers over the years, Oscar also worked off the farm, being employed for a number of years by New Mexico State University’s Physical Science Laboratory (PSL). However, unlike many farmers working off the farm, Oscar’s work took him to destinations in South America, Australia, and Canada as part of support teams for the radio antenna networks that supported, in part, the American space program. Family and friends will remember Oscar as a faithful husband, a supportive father, a committed family man, a dedicated and hard worker, a good friend, a man of firm convictions and a quiet and private person. Over the years Oscar became increasingly interested in spiritual things and publicly acknowledged Jesus Christ as his Savior in his later years, and so he will be also be remembered as a man who was as a tree bearing fruit in its season. Memorial service will be held July 26th at First Baptist Church Odessa, 709 North Lee with Curtis Brewer officiating. Service will start at 4:00 PM. Arrangements are entrusted to American Heritage Cemetery and Funeral Home

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Oscar Paul Lytton

August 26, 1924 - June 10, 2014