Wayland Ross Oakes

Wayland Ross Oakes, 80, passed away on November 29, 2013, after a lengthy illness. Wayland was born on August 5, 1933, in Ringold, OK. He moved west with his family in 1945 and settled in Arvin, CA. Wayland attended Bakersfield High School for one year until Arvin High opened the following year. He was a member of the first graduating class of Arvin High in 1952. Wayland was drafted into the United States Army in 1953. He trained at Fort Ord and then spent 22 months serving our country in Korea. Wayland became a Kern County fireman in 1960. He retired as a captain in 1989 after 30 years of service. Wayland said at his retirement party that there was never a day in 30 years that he dreaded going to work. On June 19, 1962, Wayland married Margaret Wheeldon. They were married for 51 years. Margaret was by his side when he passed away. They had their only daughter, Shannon, in 1964. Wayland loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed his fishing trips to Mexico and Alaska, and loved to go deer hunting in Colorado. Wayland rarely missed the opening day of dove season. Wayland was also an avid golfer. On his days off, you could always find him on the golf course with his fellow firefighters. Aside from his family, Wayland's greatest joy was coaching his softball girls. He gave pitching lessons for 30 years and loved every minute of it. Every night around 5:30, you could hear someone pitching in his cage, and it wouldn't end until around 9:30. He began coaching when his daughter started playing at age 9. He became a student of the game. Wayland coached Bobby Sox softball in the late '70s. He also coached BASA Blast All-Stars for four years, and had the opportunity to coach his granddaughter, Mackenzie. He went on to be either a head coach or an assistant coach at West, Highland, Ridgeview, and Stockdale High. He was also an assistant coach at Bakersfield College. Wayland truly loved all of the girls that he coached. He often said that his biggest goal was to help make Kern County softball better. And that he did!!! Wayland was preceded in death by his father, Alfonzo Oakes; his mother, Nora Ellen Oakes; and his brother, Glen Oakes. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Margaret Wheeldon Oakes; his daughter, Shannon Nieblas (Toby); his grandchildren, Mackenzie Oakes, Spencer Nieblas, and Isabelle Nieblas. He is also survived by his sister, Lawanda Beene (Frank); and his nephews, Michael Beene (Dori) and David Beene. The family would like to thank Dr. Robert Laughlin and the staff at Optimal Home and Hospice Care for their care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Lung Association. A church service will be held on Friday, December 6, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 900 H Street. Published in Greenlawn Mortuaries Cemetery Obituaries, 2013.