O. H. Nolen, Jr., of Leonard, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on June 7, 2024, at the age of 94. He was born on June 17, 1929, in Delba, Texas to Oral Hinton Nolen, Sr. and Mary Etta (Duncan) Nolen. O. H. grew up with 6 brothers and sisters.
O. H. married Eva Nell Flanagan on June 18, 1949, in Leonard, Texas. They shared 46 years of marriage before she passed away. O. H. married Reba Swain in April of 2000 and shared 21 years together. He loved her children and grandchildren and loved that her family called him “Pepaw”.
He was born the son of a sharecropper at the beginning of the Great Depression. He has seen several wars and conflicts. From WW II until the present. O. H. Only had a 8th grade education but went on to become a very successful entrepreneur. Starting with a laundry business in 1954 until finally starting a business in 1966 that is known today as Nolen’s Home Market. He has served on the Leonard city council. He is also a retired member of the Leonard fire department.
Driven by a deep faith and commitment to the community, O. H., along with others, helped establish the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Leonard, Texas., creating a lasting place of worship and fellowship for all. O.H. cherished gathering with the congregation, singing, and worshiping at the church. He found great joy in being involved with the church as a deacon in his 72 years of service to the Lord. He loved his God, his family and the community. O. H. just celebrated his 3rd Annual Singing Event to commemorate the music he loved so much.
O. H. will be remembered by his children, Darlene Blakey and husband, Derrell, of Rowlett, Texas, Dewain Nolen and wife, Lou, of Leonard, Texas, Darvin Nolen and wife, Wendy, of Leonard, Texas, and Daretha Phelps and husband, Jimmy, of Leonard, Texas; also children of Reba: Janette, Pam, Mack, and Anita, and all of their children; grandchildren, Anthony Blakey, Jonathan Blakey and wife, Julie, Lauren Lambert and husband, Nathan, Jordan Blakey, Landry Nolen and wife, Amy, Landon Nolen and wife, Rachel, Jeremy Nolen and wife, Angie, Brittany Hailey and husband, Jerome, Sandra Daugherty and husband, Michael, Brandon Dunmon and wife, Angie, Coltin Nolen, Autumn Hooten and husband, Dewayne, and Danica Kinney and husband, Billy; and 30 great grandchildren. He was preceded by his wife, Eva Nell Nolen; child, Laretha Nolen; parents, Oral H. and Mary Etta Nolen; siblings, Juanita Malone, Joe Nolen, Roy Nolen, Leon Nolen, and Shirley Mendez; and Reba “Mama Re” Swain Nolen.
The family will welcome guests to a visitation from 5-8PM, Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Leonard, Texas. A funeral service officiated by Bro. Joseph Johnson, Bro. Mack Swain, and Landon Nolen will be held at 1PM, Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Leonard. The burial will be held at Leonard Cemetery following the services. Jonathan Blakey, Jordan Blakey, Landry Nolen, Landon Nolen, Jeremy Nolen, Brandon Dunmon, and Coltin Nolen will serve as pallbearers. Anthony Blakey, DeWayne Hooten, and Billy Kinney will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Go Ye Mission Fund in Kenya. Donations can be mailed to the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ, PO Box 736, Leonard, Texas 75452. Please indicate on the donation that it is for the Go Ye Mission Fund.