J. D. Litton, 86, of Waco, died early Saturday mornng, May 6, 2006, at home. Services will be held at Crestview Church of Christ at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 9. Burial will be at Exray Cemetery, north of Stephenville, Texas, at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday with Eddie Chance officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 8, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.
J.D. was born in La Casa, Stephens County, Texas, to the late James Litton and Minnie (Flournoy). After graduating from Ranger High School in 1937, he attended Ranger Junior College. On May 2, 1939, he met Vivian Fulbright at his skating rink in Ranger, Texas. They married on Aug. 12, 1943 in Colorado Springs where he was stationed before going overseas. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying in the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance squadron. As a Captain, he flew the most recorded missions over Japan and piloted the first plane to ever land on Iwo Jima. He was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross plus one Oak Leaf Cluster and an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Returning from the war, he attended Texas A&M, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy in 1948. He began his career with Exporters & Traders Compress in Hillsboro and Waxahachie, later moving to Waco in 1960. His career spanned 46 years and included various positions from plant manager to company president. He worked until age 75. J.D. was a deacon at the Crestview Church of Christ, serving in various capacities. His ministries included visitation, Meals on Wheels, worship committee head, tape ministry and innumerable behind-the-scenes acts of charitable support. Although proud to be an Aggie, J. D. loved Abilene Christian University, where he and Vivian have been members of the President's Circle and where he served on the National Advisory Board.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vivian Litton; sons, Bill Litton and wife, Deeanne, of Waco and David Litton and wife, Diane, of Tyler; daughter, Cynthia Cooke and husband, Jim, of Abilene; granddaughters, Lacy Underwood and husband, Kevin, of Arlington, Jennifer Cooke, of Sugar Land, Emily Cooke, of Abilene, Lana Page and husband, Doug, of Huntsville, Larissa Smith and husband, Kyle, of Memphis, TN, and Briana Litton, of Abilene; grandsons, Jim Litton and wife, Kelly, of Dallas and Jonathan Cooke, of Abilene; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Brynlee and Kasen Underwood and Drew and Allie Page; sister, Hazel Phipps, of Odessa; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 5/7/2006...N
J.D. was born in La Casa, Stephens County, Texas, to the late James Litton and Minnie (Flournoy). After graduating from Ranger High School in 1937, he attended Ranger Junior College. On May 2, 1939, he met Vivian Fulbright at his skating rink in Ranger, Texas. They married on Aug. 12, 1943 in Colorado Springs where he was stationed before going overseas. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying in the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance squadron. As a Captain, he flew the most recorded missions over Japan and piloted the first plane to ever land on Iwo Jima. He was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross plus one Oak Leaf Cluster and an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Returning from the war, he attended Texas A&M, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy in 1948. He began his career with Exporters & Traders Compress in Hillsboro and Waxahachie, later moving to Waco in 1960. His career spanned 46 years and included various positions from plant manager to company president. He worked until age 75. J.D. was a deacon at the Crestview Church of Christ, serving in various capacities. His ministries included visitation, Meals on Wheels, worship committee head, tape ministry and innumerable behind-the-scenes acts of charitable support. Although proud to be an Aggie, J. D. loved Abilene Christian University, where he and Vivian have been members of the President's Circle and where he served on the National Advisory Board.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vivian Litton; sons, Bill Litton and wife, Deeanne, of Waco and David Litton and wife, Diane, of Tyler; daughter, Cynthia Cooke and husband, Jim, of Abilene; granddaughters, Lacy Underwood and husband, Kevin, of Arlington, Jennifer Cooke, of Sugar Land, Emily Cooke, of Abilene, Lana Page and husband, Doug, of Huntsville, Larissa Smith and husband, Kyle, of Memphis, TN, and Briana Litton, of Abilene; grandsons, Jim Litton and wife, Kelly, of Dallas and Jonathan Cooke, of Abilene; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Brynlee and Kasen Underwood and Drew and Allie Page; sister, Hazel Phipps, of Odessa; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 5/7/2006...N
J. D. Litton, 86, of Waco, died early Saturday mornng, May 6, 2006, at home. Services will be held at Crestview Church of Christ at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 9. Burial will be at Exray Cemetery, north of Stephenville, Texas, at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday with Eddie Chance officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 8, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.
J.D. was born in La Casa, Stephens County, Texas, to the late James Litton and Minnie (Flournoy). After graduating from Ranger High School in 1937, he attended Ranger Junior College. On May 2, 1939, he met Vivian Fulbright at his skating rink in Ranger, Texas. They married on Aug. 12, 1943 in Colorado Springs where he was stationed before going overseas. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying in the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance squadron. As a Captain, he flew the most recorded missions over Japan and piloted the first plane to ever land on Iwo Jima. He was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross plus one Oak Leaf Cluster and an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Returning from the war, he attended Texas A&M, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy in 1948. He began his career with Exporters & Traders Compress in Hillsboro and Waxahachie, later moving to Waco in 1960. His career spanned 46 years and included various positions from plant manager to company president. He worked until age 75. J.D. was a deacon at the Crestview Church of Christ, serving in various capacities. His ministries included visitation, Meals on Wheels, worship committee head, tape ministry and innumerable behind-the-scenes acts of charitable support. Although proud to be an Aggie, J. D. loved Abilene Christian University, where he and Vivian have been members of the President's Circle and where he served on the National Advisory Board.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vivian Litton; sons, Bill Litton and wife, Deeanne, of Waco and David Litton and wife, Diane, of Tyler; daughter, Cynthia Cooke and husband, Jim, of Abilene; granddaughters, Lacy Underwood and husband, Kevin, of Arlington, Jennifer Cooke, of Sugar Land, Emily Cooke, of Abilene, Lana Page and husband, Doug, of Huntsville, Larissa Smith and husband, Kyle, of Memphis, TN, and Briana Litton, of Abilene; grandsons, Jim Litton and wife, Kelly, of Dallas and Jonathan Cooke, of Abilene; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Brynlee and Kasen Underwood and Drew and Allie Page; sister, Hazel Phipps, of Odessa; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 5/7/2006...N
J.D. was born in La Casa, Stephens County, Texas, to the late James Litton and Minnie (Flournoy). After graduating from Ranger High School in 1937, he attended Ranger Junior College. On May 2, 1939, he met Vivian Fulbright at his skating rink in Ranger, Texas. They married on Aug. 12, 1943 in Colorado Springs where he was stationed before going overseas. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying in the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance squadron. As a Captain, he flew the most recorded missions over Japan and piloted the first plane to ever land on Iwo Jima. He was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross plus one Oak Leaf Cluster and an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Returning from the war, he attended Texas A&M, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy in 1948. He began his career with Exporters & Traders Compress in Hillsboro and Waxahachie, later moving to Waco in 1960. His career spanned 46 years and included various positions from plant manager to company president. He worked until age 75. J.D. was a deacon at the Crestview Church of Christ, serving in various capacities. His ministries included visitation, Meals on Wheels, worship committee head, tape ministry and innumerable behind-the-scenes acts of charitable support. Although proud to be an Aggie, J. D. loved Abilene Christian University, where he and Vivian have been members of the President's Circle and where he served on the National Advisory Board.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vivian Litton; sons, Bill Litton and wife, Deeanne, of Waco and David Litton and wife, Diane, of Tyler; daughter, Cynthia Cooke and husband, Jim, of Abilene; granddaughters, Lacy Underwood and husband, Kevin, of Arlington, Jennifer Cooke, of Sugar Land, Emily Cooke, of Abilene, Lana Page and husband, Doug, of Huntsville, Larissa Smith and husband, Kyle, of Memphis, TN, and Briana Litton, of Abilene; grandsons, Jim Litton and wife, Kelly, of Dallas and Jonathan Cooke, of Abilene; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Brynlee and Kasen Underwood and Drew and Allie Page; sister, Hazel Phipps, of Odessa; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 5/7/2006...N
