Louis Harold Aten was born December 24, 1914, in Addington, Oklahoma, to Harry and Alta (Bruton) Aten. He passed from this life Sunday, February 12, 2006, at his home in Waurika, at the age of ninety-on. His family moved from Addington to a farm northwest of Waurika in 1919. Louis attended school in Waurika and graduated from Waurika High School in 1934, where he played tackle on one of the most successful football teams in WHS history - being undefeated his senior year with a scoring record of 197 to 6. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Quantico, Virginia. After being honorably discharged, he attended Oklahoma State University. On July 20, 1936, he married Bonnie Belle Lyle in Lubbock, Texas, in the Methodist preacher's parsonage. In 1939, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served his country in the Asian-Pacific Campaign during World War II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. He served in 1950-51 in the Korean War where he was awarded the Silver Star, our nation's third highest award, and the Air Medal with five clusters. Louis retired from the Army on March 1, 1959, at which time he began a twenty-year career in Civil Service. Upon retirement April 1, 1977, Bonnie and he returned to settle in Waurika. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Waurika, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Scottish Rite and York Rite, Lawton Masonic Lodge #548, Hastings Lodge #235, and Afifi Shriners. He was also a life member of the National Rifle Association.

Durvivors include: his bride of sixty-nine years, Bonnie Belle; and children, Louis, Jr., and wife Yori of Lamesa, TX; Bonnie Belle Aten of Dallas, TX; Patricia Aten Coffman, and husband W. Douglas Coffman of Fort Worth, TX; John Aten, and wife Cheryl, of Fredericksburg, VA; a sister, Corinne Aten Beck of Edgewater, FL; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two nieces; three great-nieces; and six great-nephews.

Funeral Services for Mr. Aten were at 11:00 AM, Thursday, February 16, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church of Waurika with Rev. Trevor Smith and Rev. Reed Montgomery officiating. Burial was in the Waurika Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Waurika or the Waurika Public Library.