Russell “Rusty” Lewallen Levings

Russell “Rusty” Lewallen Levings

1947 – 2023

Russell (Rusty) L Levings of Oklahoma City passed away on October 27, 2023, after a second bout of cancer, surrounded by his wife and two sons. Rusty was born on July 16, 1947, in Blackwell, Oklahoma to George A. and Helen A. (German) Levings. Rusty attended school in Rush Springs, Oklahoma, graduating in 1965. He was one of the first men enrolled in Oklahoma College of Women, where he completed two years. He then transferred to East Central University in Ada for his final two years, graduating in 1969. He began his teaching/coaching career in Frederick, Oklahoma where he taught English and coached football and wrestling. While in Frederick, he met his future wife, Carolyn Sue Cassidy. They were married on May 22, 1971. After marriage they moved to Moore Oklahoma where he continued teaching English and coaching football and wrestling. He worked on his Master’s degree at Central State University in Edmond and graduated in 1977. While in Moore, their two sons, Brian and Chad were born. He obtained his principal certificate and his counseling certificate from the University of Oklahoma. He also taught and coached in Lexington, Oklahoma until moving to Noble Oklahoma, where they lived for 26 years. In his spare time, he officiated wrestling, baseball and softball. After retiring from teaching, he worked at Belmar Golf Course and the Tinker Air Force Base Golf Course, where he was a member for many years. Rusty and Carolyn eventually moved to Oklahoma City to be closer to her work and eventually a grandson. He was such a proud Papa of his 3 grandchildren.  His other love was golf, he basically lived and breathed it. Rusty and his sons, in the last four years, traveled to each of the four major golf tournaments, ending with The Open at St. Andrews in Scotland in 2022. He had such a wonderful time with his boys.

In marrying Carolyn, he became an OSU fan, and has gone to almost all of the home games in the last few years. Anyone who sat next to him knew he coached and officiated each game as it was played.

Rusty is survived by his wife Carolyn Sue Levings; sons Brian (& Carissa) of Edmond, Oklahoma and Chad (& Sommer) of Altus, Oklahoma; his grandchildren: Brody Allen Levings, Miller Emmett Levings and Lara Scout Levings; his sister Joyce Ann Pennington (& Dan) of Purcell, Oklahoma; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Kay and Chris Cole, Michael Cassidy, Brent Cassidy and Michele and Quintin Kinder all of Frederick, Oklahoma; along with a host of nieces and nephews and uncles and aunts.

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Helen Levings and his in-laws Bill and Marie Cassidy.

Our special thanks to all of the doctors, nurses and medical personnel in the Integris system who worked with him over his illness.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Noble Public Schools Foundation, PO Box 1111, Noble, OK  73068 in memory of Rusty Levings.

Visitation will be from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023 at Matthews Funeral Home. Family will be present to greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church, 2001 N Western Ave, Edmond, OK 73012. On October 31, 2023, at 10 am, with burial at Frederick Memorial Cemetery.