Joseph William Elkington, Jr., 90, of Waxahachie, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2014, in Dallas. Visitation for family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2014, at Wayne Boze Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at the Pat Boze Memorial Chapel of Wayne Boze Funeral Home with Dr. Leroy Fenton officiating. Interment will follow in Old Southland Cemetery, Grand Prairie, Texas.
Joe was born on September 6, 1923, in Grand Prairie, Texas, to the late Joseph W. Elkington, Sr. and Lettie Swadley Elkington. He graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas, in 1941. Joe joined the U.S. Navy in July 1942 and served on five ships, two of which were torpedoed and sunk, the USS Chicago and USS Helena. He received a citation for making first radar contact with the Japanese Fleet in the Surigao Strait and a citation for the Battle of Kula Gulf.
After the war, Joe worked as an electrician in Dallas, met his future wife, Jo Anna. From the late 60s until his retirement, Joe worked for Proko Industries in Dallas and Kaufman.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He loved playing solitaire, working crossword puzzles, watching the Texas Rangers, eating popcorn, and spending his time picking up pecans to sell for spending money for haircuts and Christmas presents.
After Joe retired he spent many years raising cattle, gardening, and working around the farm, and mowing his pastures. He loved watching the birds and squirrels come up on the porch to feed and drink and the hummingbirds buzzing around their feeders. He was great at math and was always figuring and doodling on napkins, newspapers, and magazines.
One of the highlights of his life happened in January of 2013 when he was asked to go to the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, to give his account of his service during World War II for a future exhibit. He was the oldest known living veteran to survive not one, but two ships that were sunk during World War II. He also received special recognition at last year's Medal of Honor dinner held in Dallas.
He was a 50-year member of George B. Dealey #1312 Masonic Lodge, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Masonic Order and Past Patron of Cockrell Hill Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Member, First Baptist Church, Waxahachie.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Jane Shelly and Lois Elkington; step-mother, Dora Wilson Elkington; step-brother, Howard Wilson; and a granddaughter, Shelley Rhena Nowell Garcia.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jo Anna Elkington, of Waxahachie; daughters, Rolinda Jo Nobles and her husband, Donald, of McKinney, and Bobbie Jo Davis and her husband, Gary, of Waxahachie; son, Joe Randal Elkington and his wife, Vickie, of Coppell, Texas; grandchildren: James Matthew Nowell and his wife, Danielle, of Austin, Jennifer Nicole Brown and her husband, David, of Lewisville, Joseph Charles Elkington, of The Colony, Tx, Gary Matthew Davis, of Waxahachie, Marshall Dewayne Davis and his fiancée, Cristina Hooper, of Waxahachie; great-grandchildren: Pierce Baker Nowell, Heath Adam Nowell, and Jules Linea Nowell; also his faithful dog, Josie. I15
Joe was born on September 6, 1923, in Grand Prairie, Texas, to the late Joseph W. Elkington, Sr. and Lettie Swadley Elkington. He graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas, in 1941. Joe joined the U.S. Navy in July 1942 and served on five ships, two of which were torpedoed and sunk, the USS Chicago and USS Helena. He received a citation for making first radar contact with the Japanese Fleet in the Surigao Strait and a citation for the Battle of Kula Gulf.
After the war, Joe worked as an electrician in Dallas, met his future wife, Jo Anna. From the late 60s until his retirement, Joe worked for Proko Industries in Dallas and Kaufman.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He loved playing solitaire, working crossword puzzles, watching the Texas Rangers, eating popcorn, and spending his time picking up pecans to sell for spending money for haircuts and Christmas presents.
After Joe retired he spent many years raising cattle, gardening, and working around the farm, and mowing his pastures. He loved watching the birds and squirrels come up on the porch to feed and drink and the hummingbirds buzzing around their feeders. He was great at math and was always figuring and doodling on napkins, newspapers, and magazines.
One of the highlights of his life happened in January of 2013 when he was asked to go to the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, to give his account of his service during World War II for a future exhibit. He was the oldest known living veteran to survive not one, but two ships that were sunk during World War II. He also received special recognition at last year's Medal of Honor dinner held in Dallas.
He was a 50-year member of George B. Dealey #1312 Masonic Lodge, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Masonic Order and Past Patron of Cockrell Hill Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Member, First Baptist Church, Waxahachie.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Jane Shelly and Lois Elkington; step-mother, Dora Wilson Elkington; step-brother, Howard Wilson; and a granddaughter, Shelley Rhena Nowell Garcia.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jo Anna Elkington, of Waxahachie; daughters, Rolinda Jo Nobles and her husband, Donald, of McKinney, and Bobbie Jo Davis and her husband, Gary, of Waxahachie; son, Joe Randal Elkington and his wife, Vickie, of Coppell, Texas; grandchildren: James Matthew Nowell and his wife, Danielle, of Austin, Jennifer Nicole Brown and her husband, David, of Lewisville, Joseph Charles Elkington, of The Colony, Tx, Gary Matthew Davis, of Waxahachie, Marshall Dewayne Davis and his fiancée, Cristina Hooper, of Waxahachie; great-grandchildren: Pierce Baker Nowell, Heath Adam Nowell, and Jules Linea Nowell; also his faithful dog, Josie. I15
Joseph William Elkington, Jr., 90, of Waxahachie, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2014, in Dallas. Visitation for family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2014, at Wayne Boze Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at the Pat Boze Memorial Chapel of Wayne Boze Funeral Home with Dr. Leroy Fenton officiating. Interment will follow in Old Southland Cemetery, Grand Prairie, Texas.
Joe was born on September 6, 1923, in Grand Prairie, Texas, to the late Joseph W. Elkington, Sr. and Lettie Swadley Elkington. He graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas, in 1941. Joe joined the U.S. Navy in July 1942 and served on five ships, two of which were torpedoed and sunk, the USS Chicago and USS Helena. He received a citation for making first radar contact with the Japanese Fleet in the Surigao Strait and a citation for the Battle of Kula Gulf.
After the war, Joe worked as an electrician in Dallas, met his future wife, Jo Anna. From the late 60s until his retirement, Joe worked for Proko Industries in Dallas and Kaufman.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He loved playing solitaire, working crossword puzzles, watching the Texas Rangers, eating popcorn, and spending his time picking up pecans to sell for spending money for haircuts and Christmas presents.
After Joe retired he spent many years raising cattle, gardening, and working around the farm, and mowing his pastures. He loved watching the birds and squirrels come up on the porch to feed and drink and the hummingbirds buzzing around their feeders. He was great at math and was always figuring and doodling on napkins, newspapers, and magazines.
One of the highlights of his life happened in January of 2013 when he was asked to go to the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, to give his account of his service during World War II for a future exhibit. He was the oldest known living veteran to survive not one, but two ships that were sunk during World War II. He also received special recognition at last year's Medal of Honor dinner held in Dallas.
He was a 50-year member of George B. Dealey #1312 Masonic Lodge, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Masonic Order and Past Patron of Cockrell Hill Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Member, First Baptist Church, Waxahachie.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Jane Shelly and Lois Elkington; step-mother, Dora Wilson Elkington; step-brother, Howard Wilson; and a granddaughter, Shelley Rhena Nowell Garcia.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jo Anna Elkington, of Waxahachie; daughters, Rolinda Jo Nobles and her husband, Donald, of McKinney, and Bobbie Jo Davis and her husband, Gary, of Waxahachie; son, Joe Randal Elkington and his wife, Vickie, of Coppell, Texas; grandchildren: James Matthew Nowell and his wife, Danielle, of Austin, Jennifer Nicole Brown and her husband, David, of Lewisville, Joseph Charles Elkington, of The Colony, Tx, Gary Matthew Davis, of Waxahachie, Marshall Dewayne Davis and his fiancée, Cristina Hooper, of Waxahachie; great-grandchildren: Pierce Baker Nowell, Heath Adam Nowell, and Jules Linea Nowell; also his faithful dog, Josie. I15
Joe was born on September 6, 1923, in Grand Prairie, Texas, to the late Joseph W. Elkington, Sr. and Lettie Swadley Elkington. He graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas, in 1941. Joe joined the U.S. Navy in July 1942 and served on five ships, two of which were torpedoed and sunk, the USS Chicago and USS Helena. He received a citation for making first radar contact with the Japanese Fleet in the Surigao Strait and a citation for the Battle of Kula Gulf.
After the war, Joe worked as an electrician in Dallas, met his future wife, Jo Anna. From the late 60s until his retirement, Joe worked for Proko Industries in Dallas and Kaufman.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He loved playing solitaire, working crossword puzzles, watching the Texas Rangers, eating popcorn, and spending his time picking up pecans to sell for spending money for haircuts and Christmas presents.
After Joe retired he spent many years raising cattle, gardening, and working around the farm, and mowing his pastures. He loved watching the birds and squirrels come up on the porch to feed and drink and the hummingbirds buzzing around their feeders. He was great at math and was always figuring and doodling on napkins, newspapers, and magazines.
One of the highlights of his life happened in January of 2013 when he was asked to go to the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, to give his account of his service during World War II for a future exhibit. He was the oldest known living veteran to survive not one, but two ships that were sunk during World War II. He also received special recognition at last year's Medal of Honor dinner held in Dallas.
He was a 50-year member of George B. Dealey #1312 Masonic Lodge, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Masonic Order and Past Patron of Cockrell Hill Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Member, First Baptist Church, Waxahachie.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Jane Shelly and Lois Elkington; step-mother, Dora Wilson Elkington; step-brother, Howard Wilson; and a granddaughter, Shelley Rhena Nowell Garcia.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jo Anna Elkington, of Waxahachie; daughters, Rolinda Jo Nobles and her husband, Donald, of McKinney, and Bobbie Jo Davis and her husband, Gary, of Waxahachie; son, Joe Randal Elkington and his wife, Vickie, of Coppell, Texas; grandchildren: James Matthew Nowell and his wife, Danielle, of Austin, Jennifer Nicole Brown and her husband, David, of Lewisville, Joseph Charles Elkington, of The Colony, Tx, Gary Matthew Davis, of Waxahachie, Marshall Dewayne Davis and his fiancée, Cristina Hooper, of Waxahachie; great-grandchildren: Pierce Baker Nowell, Heath Adam Nowell, and Jules Linea Nowell; also his faithful dog, Josie. I15
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