MARVIN PORTER - MATH TEACHER

Dear Friends -

Our dear friend and math teacher, Marvin Porter, passed away on Monday, Dec 20, 2010. He had been in ill health for a long time .... but he still had his spirit and sense of humor. I will post his obituary in the RHS Memorials as soon as it is published in the San Antonio paper, but here is the information I have right now:

You can send condolences to the Funeral Home or to his beloved sister,

Frances Goslin
127 Inspiration Drive
San Antonio, TX 78228

I traded correspondence with him for the last 40 years and we had several LONG conversations on the phone. He could talk!!! The one thing he said most often was that his years teaching at RHS were the most fun he ever had. He really loved us kids. I know several of you contacted him over the years and told him what a great teacher he was and he appreciated that tremendously.

Marvin C. Porter Jr., age 85, passed away on December 21, 2010. He was born on November 21, 1925 in Noxapater, MS. He was a Veteran in the Army Air Corp during WWII. He was a teacher and taught in various school districts and retired with the Randolph I.S.D. as a math teacher.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin C. Porter, Sr. & Julia M. Therrell; sister, Therrell Porter.

He is survived by his 3 sisters, Frances Goslin & her husband William T. Jr., Juanita Hutton, Julia M. Bowen & her husband Jimmy; numerous nieces and nephews that called him "Uncle Brother".

Visitation will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 27, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with the Funeral Service to follow at 12 noon. Burial will continue at Sunset Memorial Park.

Visitation

Monday, December 27, 2010
11:00a.m. - 12:00p.m.
Sunset Funeral Chapel
1701 Austin Highway
San Antonio, Texas 78218
(210)828-2811


Funeral Service
Monday, December 27, 2010
12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m.
Sunset Funeral Chapel
1701 Austin Highway
San Antonio, Texas 78218
(210)828-2811

GUEST BOOK:  http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/sanantonio/guestbook.aspx?n=marvin-porter&pid=147372893&cid=gbsrchres

Arthur Harold Nelson

http://www.daviswatkins.com/sitemaker/sites/davisw0/obit.cgi?user=283524Nelson

Today my family and I, escorted by a full compliment of Patriot Guard Riders and law enforcement officers from Okaloosa and Escambia Counties, took my father on his final earthly journey and buried him with full military honors next to my mother at Barancas National Cemetary, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. Today Americans honored a true national hero. (Read obituary and sign guestbook click above link).

-Pat Nelson Hansard '66
pathansard@hotmail.com

CMSgt Jack Melvin Thompson

Hi Gloria,

Sorry I have to contact you with sad news. But if you would please post this on the memorial page on your blog, I would appreciate it very much. Daddy was 88 years old and had been in declining health for several months. Mom is doing well and has lots of support from family and friends. Thanks, Janis

CMSgt Jack Melvin Thompson, US Air Force, Retired, departed this life on Nov. 20, 2010, at the age of 88. He was a long-time resident of Universal City, TX (since 1969). He served in the Air Force from 1942 until 1973. During his AF career, he was stationed in China as an advisor; England (where he met the aviator Charles Lindbergh); Okinawa (in support of the Korean action); March AFB, CA; Fuchu Air Station, Japan; Hickam AFB in Honolulu, Hawaii; Harlingen AFB in South Texas; and finally, Randolph AFB near San Antonio, TX. In 1969, he was sent on his final international assignment to Saigon, Vietnam. Upon his return to Texas in 1970, he served for two and a half years at Brooks AFB, San Antonio, before retiring in 1973.

Jack is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Betty Jean; daughter Janis and husband Ronald Fielder; son Jon and wife Brenda; son Jimmy and wife Tricia; daughter Jill and husband Ronald Koerth; son Joe and wife Deanna. Jack also leaves behind twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Betty Jean Thompson Scholarship Fund at Universal City Baptist Church, 1401 Pat Booker, Universal City, TX 78148. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 29, 2010, at the Schertz Funeral Home (with visitation beginning at 11 am and the memorial service at 12 pm). A private Interment with Full Military Honors will be held in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:45 pm.

You are invited to sign the Guestbook at http://www.schertzfuneralhome.com/

Janis Thompson Fielder ('69)
jjftx51@yahoo.com
1319 Chandler Cove
Pasadena, TX
281-487-5360

JAMES RUEL OWNBEY

JAMES RUEL OWNBEY
After surviving many battles during WWII, James Ruel Ownbey lost his final battle with cancer on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2010.

He proudly served in the USAF from 1940 until he retired in 1972. After fighting in the Pacific Theatre during WWII, he continued his service during the Korean and Vietnam wars and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

He was preceded in death by his beloved first wife and the mother of his children, Peggy Ownbey.

He is survived by his three children: Jennifer Link, Jim and Rudy Ownbey, six grandchildren: JJ Link, Ashley Bryan, Tyler Ownbey, Erin Ownbey, Sara Anne and Megan Ownbey, two great-grandchildren: Katie and Courtney Link.

He will be buried with full military honors at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens at 2pm, Sunday, November 14, 2010. There will be no visitation.

The family requests that any donations be made to Cleveland Church of Christ.

“I am an American Airman, Wingman, Leader and Warrior. I will never leave an Airman behind. I will never falter and I will not fail. “

There was a nice write up on Colonel Ownbey in his hometown newspaper, the Cleveland (Tennessee) Daily Banner:


http://www.clevelandbanner.com/pages/full_story/push?article-A+beloved+old+soldier%20&id=10318683&instance=main_article

Here's a link to the article mentioned above:

http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/10232026/article-Ownbey--Lawson-survivors-of-WWII?

There's also a picture of him on his church's web site:

http://www.clevelandchurchofchrist.com/

Jan Ownbey a/k/a Jennifer Link Class of '67

jgl1108@msn.com

MIKE HALE '66

J. Michael Hale, 62 passed away at his home on Wednesday, November 3 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, children Adam and Lauren Hale of Houston, mother Gloria Hale of Schertz, sister Patti Hale and husband Ric, nephew Brandon Suehs and family, all of Austin.

He was preceded in death by his father, Mearl D. Hale.


Mike graduated with Honors from the University of Texas School of Architecture in 1977, and was currently employed by Fluor Corp. as Director of Architecture.


Mike served as helicopter crew chief for the U.S. Army from 1969-1972.


He was awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross in field commendation ceremonies while in Vietnam.


Mike will be remembered for his quick wit and passion for excellence in all of his endeavors.

After a valiant battle with Medullary Thyroid Cancer, Mike passed away early Wednesday, November 3.


Services are as follow:

Visitation Friday 5 November 6-8pm
Funeral Saturday 6 November 1pm
Settegast- Kopf (281) 565-5015
15015 Southwest Freeway
Sugarland, TX


Burial with full Military Honors
Wednesday 10 November 1pm
Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio


Becky Hale
9015 Prichett Drive
Houston, TX 77096
(713) 668-0510


Patti Hale Ramie (Richard) ‘68
18220 Edna Road
Jonestown, TX 78645
Cell: (512) 922-6502

Lt. Col. (ret) BRUCE DONALD McCALL

Bruce McCall (1922 - 2010)

Bruce Donald McCall of Arlington peacefully began his eternal life Monday, July 26, 2010, at the age of 87. Service: 3:30 p.m. Friday in Moore Funeral Home Chapel, Arlington. Interment: With full military honors in Moore Memorial Gardens alongside his beloved wife, Dorothy, about whom he wrote, "...the one that has helped me the most in life has been that same girl that I fell in love with so many years ago. I thank the Lord for her..." And we thank the Lord for Bruce. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Moore Funeral Home. Memorials: Donations in his honor can be made to any local hospice. Bruce was born Oct. 25, 1922, in Pawnee, Okla., the youngest of five siblings. He spent his youth on his parents' farm and graduated from Oklahoma State University. Upon graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Irene Enslow, on Oct. 12, 1944, and started his family. After serving overseas in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, he attended Harvard School of Business, where he received his MBA in 1954. Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1969 as a lieutenant colonel, he settled in Arlington where he worked for Bell Helicopter until he retired in 1985. He was an active member of Pantego Bible Church in Arlington, where he was a deacon and where he served the Lord he loved. In a letter telling of his life, he wrote, "I have always been sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leadership in my life." Bruce's loved ones and friends were enriched by his kindness and compassion, by his easy-going temperament and light sense of humor. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy; brother, William; and sisters, Faye, Joy, Goldie and Hazel. Survivors: Children, Pamela S. Smith of Arlington, Ronald B. McCall and wife, Vicki, of Arlington, Patricia L. McCall of Raleigh and Dorene K. Foster and husband, Donald, of Burleson. He was blessed with six grandchildren who brought joy to his life: Jason M. Watkins and wife, Jessica, Jessica A. Smith, Lauren K. Wilson and husband, Jeff, Clint M. Foster, Jeff R. Foster and Madison N. McCall; and great-grandsons, Christian T. Smith and Landon F. Watkins.

Published in Star-Telegram on July 28, 2010

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?n=bruce-mccall&pid=144334224#ixzz1387Sj1vg
 
PAM McCALL SMITH (Class of '65)
pam.smith@arlingtontx.gov
1218 Marshalldale Drive

Arlington, TX 76013
 
RONNIE McCALL (Class of '67)
rbmccall2000@tx.rr.com
6105 Paradise Drive

Arlington, TX 76011

Col. ROSS D. NORTON

Col. Ross D. Norton, USAF (Ret.), 93, passed away on Saturday, September 18, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on October 29, 1916, in Green Forest, Arkansas, to Walter and Annie Norton. He graduated from Green Forest High School and left the family farm to seek his fortune. Ross enlisted in the US Army Air Forces in 1941, was later selected for Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. In 1944, he was stationed in England and, as fate would have it, was billeted "for one night only" in his future wife's family home. In December 1945 he married Joyce Mary; they would spend the next 63 years together, travelling the world, raising a family and retiring in San Antonio. A member of the Greatest Generation, his assignments included tours in the US, Europe, and Vietnam. Ross proudly served in the United States Air Force for 31 years, during which he received his BA from the University of Maryland. His distinguished career culminated with his return to England as the base commander at RAF Chicksands. His second career began with 10 years at USAA and continued with volunteer service through Windcrest Methodist Church, the Methodist Men's group and the Army Residence Community. Ross was predeceased by his brothers; Fred, Glenn, and Clyde. Survivors include his wife Joyce; sons, Michael and wife Kay, and Richard; daughters, Elizabeth and Susan; daughter-in-law Kathy; grandchildren, Christopher and wife Heather, Matthew and wife Kristina, Benjamin and wife Becky, and Jeffrey and wife Stacey; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Braylon, Cade, and Kaitlyn; a brother, Claude and wife Gladys. Ross (Dad) will be remembered as the loving patriarch of his extended family. He adored his wife, was quick to laugh, never forgot a face, gave the best hugs, and will live in our hearts always.

VISITATION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH

******

CELEBRATION OF LIFE THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 @ 1:00 P.M.
ARMY RESIDENCE
COMMUNITY CHAPEL
7400 CRESTWAY, San Antonio, TX

A private Interment with Full Military Honors will be held in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association , 7400 Louis Pasteur, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78229.

You are invited to sign the Guestbook at http://www.porterloring.com/

Mike Norton '64 and
Rick Norton '66
c/o 340 Treeline Park, #1035
San Antonio, TX 78209
Cell: (361) 550-7145
nortor97@bigplanet.com

VIVIAN ROSE GREICO

September 3, 2010

Vivian Rose Grieco passed away 8-31-10 at the Grand age of 89 peacefully and in the care of our Father.
I will miss her terribly but know that she lived a very full life and loved by many.

She was buried at Fort Sam Houston yesterday with my father and they are together again.

The inside of her card read a poem I had written many many years before that shares how her spirit stays with me and how we felt about each other.

Through all the years of growing up, you taught me what was right;
to stomp my feet, to beg and plead and get my way inspite.
You taught me how to laugh away the blues that haunt you daily.
To be as strong , some people say, as the lawyer F. Lee Bailey.
You always saved a special place for God and The Preamble.
But most of all, I recall,
You Taught Me How To Gamble

Donna Dee Grieco Murrell
RHS Class of '65
ddmurrell@satx.rr.com

Kathleen Collum Watkins

My mom passed away January 20. Her funeral will be on Tuesday, January 27 at 10 am at the Cook Walden Funeral Home at 6100 North Lamar, in Austin. She'll be buried at Ft Sam with my dad on Wednesday, January 28 at 1 pm. Her name was Kathleen Collum Watkins and the obituary will be in the Austin and San Antonio papers. Would appreciate your prayers for my family.

My mother in law Gerri Jendron's funeral is Saturday January 24 in South Carolina, so this has been a very difficult time for us.

Love you all and the support we all give to each other. Sincerely,

Janet Watkins Jendron ('65)
jjendron@usit.net
623 Timberlake Drive
Chapin, SC 29036

Jimmy Watkins ('66)
jcwatkins@flash.net
600 Furlong Drive
Austin, TX 78746

Danny Watkins ('69)
(info to follow)

DORIS SANDERS - RHS Secretary

GALVESTON — Doris Sanders passed away April 11, 2010, at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, just two months shy of celebrating the hundredth year of a life filled with love for family, friends, history, and travel.

If you wanted Doris to accompany you on a trip, you never had to ask her twice: her bag was packed and she was ready to head out the door. Her world adventures took her to almost every continent, including Australia at the young age of 92.

Doris Annette Dunham was born in Bowie, Texas, on June 18th, 1910. The hardships of two world wars, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression forged close bonds between Doris and her siblings, Jack, Perry, Jimmy, and Marie.

Doris married Carl Sanders and they had three children: Carl Jr., Larry, and Sandra. Doris was widowed at the early age of 42, and moved with her daughter to Port Lavaca, Texas, where she worked as an administrative secretary at Travis Middle School.

In 1962, Doris moved to Universal City, Texas, where she was a founding board member of the Universal City United Methodist Church. She worked as a secretary at Randolph High School and gained life-long friends who enjoyed traveling and hosting events like their annual Miss America viewing party.

In 1979, she married Homer Ruyle, a long-time family friend from Corpus Christi. After losing her second husband, she lived for many years in Universal City, and finally came to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Bob Paul of Texas City, Texas. Doris attended the First United Methodist Church of Dickinson, and remained politically active: at age 98, she cast her vote and caucused for President Barack Obama.

Doris loved crochet and quilting, and volunteered for years at the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, introducing visitors to the artistry and friendship of quilting. Her love for family and friends were threads that connected cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews, and she will be deeply missed by hundreds of friends and surviving family: Mary Dunham of Fort Worth, Texas; Carl and Lydia Sanders of Cibolo, Texas; Larry and Cindy Sanders of San Antonio, Texas; Sandra and Robert Paul of Texas City, Texas; Galloway and Mary Hudson of Houston, Texas; and Jane Sanders of Portland, Oregon.

Grandchildren: Jerri Lynn Sanders of Austin, Texas; Harold Sanders of Austin, Texas; Trey Sanders (d. 1998); Judy Sanders (d. 1998); Norman and Lisa Sanders of Huntingtown, Maryland; Jennifer and Andy Lorenz of Cypress, Texas; Mary Kay and Michael Higgins of Houston, Texas; Kendall Hudson (d. 2003); Kimberly and Blake Ingram of Sunnyvale, Texas; Geoffrey and Kjersti Sanders of Sandy, Oregon; Bobby and Ginger Paul of Alvin, Texas; Stephen and Allie Paul of Cypress, Texas; 14 great grandchildren.

As many years ago she decided to donate her body to the University of Texas Medical Branch for medical research, friends and family of Doris are invited to a memorial service honoring her life on Saturday, May 1, at 2 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Dickinson, 200 FM 517, Dickinson, Texas 77539.

The family requests donations in her memory to the Institute of Texan Cultures, Docent program, 801 E. Durango Blvd., San Antonio, TX, 78205, the Universal City United Methodist Church, or the First United Methodist Church of Dickinson.

Gerald A. Swindler - Coach

Gerald A. "Jerry" Swindler went home on March 19, 2010 at the age of 83. Affectionately called "Poppe" by his grandchildren, he was born November 18, 1926 in San Antonio. He graduated from Tech High School as a 4 year football letterman, and was a graduate of Hardin-Simmons Baptist University. During World War II he served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and the U.S. Marine Corp. His love of football later developed into a coaching and teaching career at several area high schools and middle schools, and he retired from Northeast Independent School District. He was an avid sportsman who also enjoyed golf, the Spurs, fishing on "Swindler Island" with his brother E.J. and hunting with his stepson Howard. He was a member of the San Antonio Optimist Club for many years and a member of the First Baptist Church in Castroville, Texas. Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley Swindler, parents Edgar and Edwina Swindler, daughter Sheryl Swindler, and sister, Dorothy Tidwell. He is survived by children Susan Lillibridge and husband Greg, Sandra Metwally and husband Maher, Gerald Swindler, Jr., Sharlet Pardue, and Edgar Collins; stepchildren Lloyd Van Winkle, M .D. and wife Joanne, and Howard Van Winkle and wife Juana; brother E.J. Swindler; grandchildren Andy, Jake, Nate, Ben, Jesse, April, David, Christina, Sarah, Matthew, Jaclynn, Heather, Rudy, Megan, and Amanda; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family and friends. The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice House for the excellent care they provided to Jerry. Visitation will be on Monday, Mar. 22, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home in Castroville. Funeral Service will be Tuesday, Mar. 23, 2010, 10:00 a.m. at Castroville First Baptist Church, Castroville, TX. Interment will follow at the Castroville Community Cemetery in Castroville, TX. Memorials may be made to the Castroville First Baptist Church.
Visit http://www.tondre-guinn.com/

DANNIE E. BALL 1928-2010

Master Sergeant (USAF, Retired) Dannie E. Ball, having fought the good fight and having kept the faith, finished his earthly course on 16 February 2010 and reported to his final duty station in Heaven. He was born in Lockland, Hamilton County, Ohio on 14 January 1928 and was the only child of James Elisha and Della Denham (Estep) Ball. On 7 September 1945, he and the love of his life Delores (Dee) Broughton crossed the Ohio River to be married in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky. They were married for more than sixty four years until his death. Besides his widow Delores, he leaves behind a son, Colonel (USAF, Retired) Gerald Dannie Ball, who resides in San Antonio with his wife Calla Jane (Gibson) Ball, and a daughter, Janet Elaine Valadez of Cibolo, widow of the late Jacob Cisneros Valadez. Other couples Dee and Dannie considered to be like their own children are Betty & David Sippel of Cibolo and Sandy & David Patrick of Seagoville. Dannie's love of God was reflected in his love of God's people. Besides his own children, eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, numerous cousins, and others connected to him directly, he leaves many others who felt his love and support in times of need and of hope. Truly, he was a blessing to, and was blessed by, a remarkably extended family. Dannie served over twenty one years in the military, enlisting in the Army Air Forces when he turned 18 in 1946 and moving to the United States Air Force when it became a separate service in 1947. His Air Force career as an air traffic controller took him to duty stations in Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, England, Texas, Mississippi, Korea, Louisiana, Virginia, and Spain. After retiring from the Air Force in 1967 at Randolph Air Force Base, he began dramatically varied subsequent careers. First, he worked in the electronic security systems business in Waco. Then he was in wholesale agricultural sales in Dallas for almost thirty years. Dannie and Dee returned to the San Antonio area in 2000 where they became members of First Baptist Church of Universal City. Everywhere he went, he actively served the Lord in a local congregation. He taught Sunday School, was a Sunday School superintendent, served as a deacon, and filled in wherever the people of his church needed his skills and willingness to serve. He was also passionate about his avocation of flying model airplanes. He began with free-flight planes, then moved to U-control flying, and finally to radio controlled models for the last forty five years of his life. He met many lasting friends through model airplane flying. His 31 consecutive year string of flying radio controlled models every New Years Day ended this year when he was hospitalized. Visitation will be at Colonial Funeral Home, 625 Kitty Hawk Road, Universal City, Texas on Wednesday evening, 17 February, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at First Baptist Church of Universal City at 12:30 on 18 February followed by burial with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston at 2:00 p.m.

Jerry and Calla Ball
8637 Classic Oaks Lane
San Antonio, TX 78255
jcrsdj@aol.com

MARY LEE FRANCIS

Mary Lee Francis, formerly of San Antonio, TX passed away January 24, 2010 in Tomball, TX. She was born on December 19, 1916 to George & Maude Rayburn in Fagus, MO. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Robert L. Francis, USAF (ret.) of 59 years; daughter, Susan Rayburn Francis Strode & her husband, Hubert "Buck"; niece, Elizabeth Rayburn Windsor; Mrs. Francis is survived by her daughter, Janet Patricia Francis Murillo & her husband J. Ray Murillo; grandchildren, John Robert Jewett & his wife Donna and James Rayburn Jewett & his wife Kim; great grandchildren, Jennifer Jewett, Ian Jewett, Jamie Jewett and Alec Anguiano; sister, Billie Rayburn Windsor of Colorado Springs, CO; and niece, Margaret Windsor Vest of Shohamish, WA. Visitation will be 5-7p.m., Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Home. Graveside Service will be 1:15 p.m., Friday, January 29, 2010 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Please visit www.sunsetmemorialparkandfuneralhome.com to sign the family on line guest book. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be to the Alzheimer's Association , 118 E. Hospital, Nacogdoches, TX 75961.

Janet Francis Murillo
janmur45@msn.com
453 Dos Lagos
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
(512) 858-4063

CMSGT James H. Lieberman, USAF, (Ret)

Visitation: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010

SERVICE: Monday, Feb. 1, 2010

Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary
Cemetery: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

CMSGT James H. Lieberman, USAF, (Ret), age 89, of San Antonio, born in Coblenz, Germany, died Monday, January 25, 2010. James retired from the USAF on August 1, 1966 after having served a period of 26 ½ years of active duty. He was employed by Frost National Bank on August 1, 1966 and retired from there July 31, 1985 of which 15 years was in the capacity of Purchasing Manager. He had numerous awards both military and civilian to include: Silver Beaver Award, Boy Scouts of America; and President Purchasing Management Association of San Antonio. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Frances M. Lieberman; son, John Joseph of Shreveport, LA; daughter, Jo Ann of San Antonio, TX. Visitation will be on Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Porter Loring.

John Lieberman '66
jlieberman37@comcast.net
520 Browning Street
Shreveport, LA 71106
(318) 393-9410

THOMAS L. COCHERES, COL. USAF retired

I kept thinking adding more bad news was unnecessary. Thomas L. Cocheres, Col, USAF retired passed away October 5, 2009 at age 90. Buried at Ft. Sam. Survived by wife, Jacquelyn and three children, three grandchildren. Thanks for all of the updates you give us.

Patrice Cocheres Ferguson
pferguson@fcpcpa.com
Class of 68

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Jan. 1, 1919
Died Oct. 5, 2009 and resided in San Antonio, TX.
Service: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary
Cemetery: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Colonel Thomas L. Cocheres, USAF (Ret.) passed away on Monday, October 5, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas.
He was born on New Year's Day 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Greek immigrant parents, Louis Cocheres and Eleni Vlonidis.
He was former Chief of the Biomedical Sciences Corps, USAF and attended Greek and American schools, graduating from Allegheny High in 1937. During the Great Depression, he and his brothers helped support the family by selling newspapers on the streets in downtown Pittsburgh. After high school, he worked in a theater as an usher and assistant manager. He was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1942 and was sent to Keesler Field, Biloxi, MS for basic training. From there he was assigned to Atlantic City where the Army had just established a training center for medical personnel. Private Cocheres was assigned to the Medical Inspector as a clerk and later became a drill sergeant. He was selected to attend the Army Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, PA, and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation. He then was selected to attend the Battalion Surgeons Assistants School at Camp Barkeley, TX, and later assigned to the Camp Butner, NC, Hospital Center for duty as Company Commander of companies C&D, 8th Battalion, and then Company B, 9th Battalion. He left the Army at the end of World War II and attended the University of Pittsburgh under the G.I. Bill. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology in 1948.
He was recalled to active duty in 1949 and assigned to the Department of Experimental Psychology at the School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He conducted research and completed an experimental study entitled "Reading Devices Versus Free Reading" which was presented to Trinity University in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Arts which he obtained in August 1951.
In 1949, he met and married the former Jacquelyn Cone, a native San Antonian. They were wed at Randolph AFB Chapel on November 26, 1949 and he and Jacquelyn began their life together with the Air Force. He continued working on research projects, including study of crew personnel at various Strategic Air Command bases. In 1951 he was assigned to the Far East when the Korean War broke out. Upon his return to the US he was assigned to the Air Research and Development Command in Baltimore, Maryland and later assignments included Luke AFB in Phoenix, AZ and Tachikawa AB in Tokyo, Japan. While at Tachikawa during the Vietnam War, he was deployed to Tak Li, Thailand with the Air Force's mobile hospitals. He returned to Randolph AFB to the Military Personnel Center and later to Sheppard AFB when the Biomedical Sciences Corps was established. He transferred to Washington, DC as Chief of the Biomedical Sciences Corps and received awards from national professional organizations and the military.
His professional honors include the Legion of Merit with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and was the military consultant to the USAF Surgeon General for Biomedical Sciences. He was most proud of his efforts on behalf of the Surgeon General to establish a "physician assistance" program that would train medical technicians to function independently but be supervised by physicians. This program was the early forerunner of the important national "PA" programs of today. Col. and Mrs. Cocheres retired from Washington, DC to Helotes, TX in 1978. Col. Cocheres was preceded in death by his mother and father; his sisters Bess Sicalias, Alexandra King, and Penelope Cocheres; and his brothers Stathis Kotsiris and Steven Cocheres. Col. Cocheres is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Jacquelyn; children Patrice L. Ferguson and husband John Camp of Houston; Sherry L. Wolf, MD and husband Daryl Wolf of Vernon, Texas; and T. Michael Cocheres and wife Gay Cocheres of Enid, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his three wonderful grandchildren who lovingly called him "Pappou": J. Alexander Camp, Trevor Louis Cocheres, and Ali Colleen Cocheres. Also surviving Col. Cocheres are his sister Betty Clayton and her children John and Dan and their children; his brother Gabriel Louis Cocheres and his wife Johanna and their children Louis Cocheres and wife Carol; and Lenny Nyman and husband Ben and their son Eric; sister-in-law Eleni Cocheres and her children Valerie, Barbara, and Paul and their spouses and children; sister-in-law Eleni Kotsiris and her children, son Lambros, daughters Bessie and Effie and their children; and devoted nephew Jim Sicalias. Col. Cocheres is also survived by many long-time friends and golfing and singing buddies. Pallbearers are son Michael; grandsons Alex and Trevor, and sons-in-law John and Daryl. Special thanks to Air Force Village Freedom House and their devoted caregivers. Father Danut Suciu will officiate. A brief Interment Service with Full Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Freedom House, Alzheimer Care and Research Center, 12455 Freedom Way, San Antonio, TX 78245.

JAMES EVERETTE ENGLISH 1924 - 2009

Mr. James Everette English


October 16, 1924 - December 27, 2009

James Everette English, age 85, passed away on Sunday, December 27th at the Bill Nichols Veterans Home in Alexander City, Alabama. Born in Morven, Georgia, he was the youngest child of Rev. C.O. and Margie English. He entered the Army Air Corps in June of 1943 and retired from the United States Air Force in July of 1973. He served during two wars—World War II and Vietnam. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked in the Sears Automotive Department in Atlanta, GA for 14 years. He was married to Doris Anne McKoy English (also of Thomaston) for 63 years. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind three children: Terry Lee (Lucy) English and Laura (Charles) Huggins (who both live in Barnesville, GA), and Lynn (Robert) Sutton who lives in Wetumpka, AL. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Julie English Hernandez, Paige English Zaragoza, Michael Reed English, Sara English, Tiffany Sutton Crittenden, and Noah, Christian and Daniel Huggins. He had seven great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bill Nichols Veterans Home, 1784 Elkahatchee Rd., Alexander City, AL 35010 or the First Baptist Church in Thomaston.

Sgt. Loren Dodgion 12/21/2009

My dad, Sgt. Loren Dodgion, passed away on Dec. 21. He was stationed at Randolph from late 1958 until 1965 and again from 1968 until he retired in 1971 after 31 years' service.

Loren C. Dodgion

Published: January 6, 2010

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Services for Loren Cecil Dodgion, 92, of Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Belton, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at First Presbyterian Church in Belton.

Mr. Dodgion died Monday, Dec. 21, in Colorado Springs.

He was born Sept. 23, 1917, in Mosheim, Bosque County, to Dawson Earl and Eva Hotchkiss Dodgion. He married Irma Lee Whatley on Nov. 23, 1942, in Hamilton. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force for 31 years, retiring on Oct. 1, 1971. Awards and decorations include: American Theater Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp and loop, U.S. Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with battle star, U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal and the U.S. Air Force Meritorious Service Medal. He was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Belton.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Earl Dodgion of South Fork, Colo., and Robert Loren Dodgion of Colorado Springs; a daughter, Linda Jean Dodgion of Temple; and four grandsons.

Shrine of Remembrance in Colorado Springs is in charge of arrangements.

Earl Dodgion
earldod@yahoo.com