Jack Fincher Dodson, 91, of Amarillo died on April 13, 2017. He personified Gen. Patton's words, "Better to fight for something than to live for nothing." He began as a farm boy, grew up as a WWII veteran and found his calling as a husband, father and entrepreneur.
Jack was born at the Dodson family farm in Ochiltree County on November 18, 1925, to the late Elbert Carter Dodson and Rhoda Elizabeth Fincher. He was the youngest of three, preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Waldean Ficke and Beryl Trew and three wives, Dora Martha Everhart, Ollie Andrews, and Betty Frye.
He graduated from Perryton High School in 1943 and immediately began service in the Army Air Corps. He flew an impressive 35 missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 in WWII. His bomb group forced key hits in the Battles of Campaigns—Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He earned numerous awards, among them were three Bronze Battle Stars, five Oak Leaf Clusters and a French Legion of Honor medal. After the war, he married Dora Everhart and together they had two children. In 1987, he married Ollie Andrews who passed away in 1999. In 2001 he married Betty Marie Frye and she passed away on April 19, 2016. He attended Texas Tech University, but before finishing his degree Jack began a residential construction business, The House That Jack Built, and continued in the construction industry in various ways for the next 50 years. To know Jack was to love him. He was happiest in his woodworking shop, tending his garden, playing bridge, solving jigsaw puzzles and loving his family. He was famous for his sayings – "Glad to be vertical and breathin'," "Waitin' on payday and quittin' time," "Measure twice and nail once," and "Put a fork in me, I'm done." Jack was an active member of Polk Street Methodist Church, a life member of the VFW and the NRA.
He is survived by two children, Debbie (Bill) Farnum of Austin, Texas, and Scott (Judy) Dodson of Dumas, Texas; four grandchildren, Kathryn (Scott) Whitaker of Austin, Texas, Daniel (Amanda) Farnum of Fairhope, Alabama, Sarah Dodson Sloan (Michael) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Anna Dodson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four step-children, Becky Reinart of Hereford, Texas, John (Shannon) Frye of Tulia, Texas, JoNell (Phil) Slack of Amarillo, Texas, and Dennis Andrews (Lindsey) of Liberty Hill, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and twelve step-greatgrandchildren.
The family will be gathered at 2223 S. Ong Street, Amarillo, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 10:30am, officiated by Rev. Burt Palmer, Polk Street United Methodist Church. Private family burial will be at Ochiltree County Cemetery on the same date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Charis Bible College, for the benefit of the Building Fund, 800 Gospel Truth Way, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863; Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas for the benefit of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78723; or to a charity of your choice.
(Published by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Saturday, April 15, 2017)
Jack was born at the Dodson family farm in Ochiltree County on November 18, 1925, to the late Elbert Carter Dodson and Rhoda Elizabeth Fincher. He was the youngest of three, preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Waldean Ficke and Beryl Trew and three wives, Dora Martha Everhart, Ollie Andrews, and Betty Frye.
He graduated from Perryton High School in 1943 and immediately began service in the Army Air Corps. He flew an impressive 35 missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 in WWII. His bomb group forced key hits in the Battles of Campaigns—Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He earned numerous awards, among them were three Bronze Battle Stars, five Oak Leaf Clusters and a French Legion of Honor medal. After the war, he married Dora Everhart and together they had two children. In 1987, he married Ollie Andrews who passed away in 1999. In 2001 he married Betty Marie Frye and she passed away on April 19, 2016. He attended Texas Tech University, but before finishing his degree Jack began a residential construction business, The House That Jack Built, and continued in the construction industry in various ways for the next 50 years. To know Jack was to love him. He was happiest in his woodworking shop, tending his garden, playing bridge, solving jigsaw puzzles and loving his family. He was famous for his sayings – "Glad to be vertical and breathin'," "Waitin' on payday and quittin' time," "Measure twice and nail once," and "Put a fork in me, I'm done." Jack was an active member of Polk Street Methodist Church, a life member of the VFW and the NRA.
He is survived by two children, Debbie (Bill) Farnum of Austin, Texas, and Scott (Judy) Dodson of Dumas, Texas; four grandchildren, Kathryn (Scott) Whitaker of Austin, Texas, Daniel (Amanda) Farnum of Fairhope, Alabama, Sarah Dodson Sloan (Michael) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Anna Dodson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four step-children, Becky Reinart of Hereford, Texas, John (Shannon) Frye of Tulia, Texas, JoNell (Phil) Slack of Amarillo, Texas, and Dennis Andrews (Lindsey) of Liberty Hill, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and twelve step-greatgrandchildren.
The family will be gathered at 2223 S. Ong Street, Amarillo, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 10:30am, officiated by Rev. Burt Palmer, Polk Street United Methodist Church. Private family burial will be at Ochiltree County Cemetery on the same date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Charis Bible College, for the benefit of the Building Fund, 800 Gospel Truth Way, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863; Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas for the benefit of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78723; or to a charity of your choice.
(Published by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Saturday, April 15, 2017)
Jack Fincher Dodson, 91, of Amarillo died on April 13, 2017. He personified Gen. Patton's words, "Better to fight for something than to live for nothing." He began as a farm boy, grew up as a WWII veteran and found his calling as a husband, father and entrepreneur.
Jack was born at the Dodson family farm in Ochiltree County on November 18, 1925, to the late Elbert Carter Dodson and Rhoda Elizabeth Fincher. He was the youngest of three, preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Waldean Ficke and Beryl Trew and three wives, Dora Martha Everhart, Ollie Andrews, and Betty Frye.
He graduated from Perryton High School in 1943 and immediately began service in the Army Air Corps. He flew an impressive 35 missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 in WWII. His bomb group forced key hits in the Battles of Campaigns—Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He earned numerous awards, among them were three Bronze Battle Stars, five Oak Leaf Clusters and a French Legion of Honor medal. After the war, he married Dora Everhart and together they had two children. In 1987, he married Ollie Andrews who passed away in 1999. In 2001 he married Betty Marie Frye and she passed away on April 19, 2016. He attended Texas Tech University, but before finishing his degree Jack began a residential construction business, The House That Jack Built, and continued in the construction industry in various ways for the next 50 years. To know Jack was to love him. He was happiest in his woodworking shop, tending his garden, playing bridge, solving jigsaw puzzles and loving his family. He was famous for his sayings – "Glad to be vertical and breathin'," "Waitin' on payday and quittin' time," "Measure twice and nail once," and "Put a fork in me, I'm done." Jack was an active member of Polk Street Methodist Church, a life member of the VFW and the NRA.
He is survived by two children, Debbie (Bill) Farnum of Austin, Texas, and Scott (Judy) Dodson of Dumas, Texas; four grandchildren, Kathryn (Scott) Whitaker of Austin, Texas, Daniel (Amanda) Farnum of Fairhope, Alabama, Sarah Dodson Sloan (Michael) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Anna Dodson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four step-children, Becky Reinart of Hereford, Texas, John (Shannon) Frye of Tulia, Texas, JoNell (Phil) Slack of Amarillo, Texas, and Dennis Andrews (Lindsey) of Liberty Hill, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and twelve step-greatgrandchildren.
The family will be gathered at 2223 S. Ong Street, Amarillo, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 10:30am, officiated by Rev. Burt Palmer, Polk Street United Methodist Church. Private family burial will be at Ochiltree County Cemetery on the same date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Charis Bible College, for the benefit of the Building Fund, 800 Gospel Truth Way, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863; Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas for the benefit of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78723; or to a charity of your choice.
(Published by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Saturday, April 15, 2017)
Jack was born at the Dodson family farm in Ochiltree County on November 18, 1925, to the late Elbert Carter Dodson and Rhoda Elizabeth Fincher. He was the youngest of three, preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Waldean Ficke and Beryl Trew and three wives, Dora Martha Everhart, Ollie Andrews, and Betty Frye.
He graduated from Perryton High School in 1943 and immediately began service in the Army Air Corps. He flew an impressive 35 missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 in WWII. His bomb group forced key hits in the Battles of Campaigns—Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He earned numerous awards, among them were three Bronze Battle Stars, five Oak Leaf Clusters and a French Legion of Honor medal. After the war, he married Dora Everhart and together they had two children. In 1987, he married Ollie Andrews who passed away in 1999. In 2001 he married Betty Marie Frye and she passed away on April 19, 2016. He attended Texas Tech University, but before finishing his degree Jack began a residential construction business, The House That Jack Built, and continued in the construction industry in various ways for the next 50 years. To know Jack was to love him. He was happiest in his woodworking shop, tending his garden, playing bridge, solving jigsaw puzzles and loving his family. He was famous for his sayings – "Glad to be vertical and breathin'," "Waitin' on payday and quittin' time," "Measure twice and nail once," and "Put a fork in me, I'm done." Jack was an active member of Polk Street Methodist Church, a life member of the VFW and the NRA.
He is survived by two children, Debbie (Bill) Farnum of Austin, Texas, and Scott (Judy) Dodson of Dumas, Texas; four grandchildren, Kathryn (Scott) Whitaker of Austin, Texas, Daniel (Amanda) Farnum of Fairhope, Alabama, Sarah Dodson Sloan (Michael) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Anna Dodson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four step-children, Becky Reinart of Hereford, Texas, John (Shannon) Frye of Tulia, Texas, JoNell (Phil) Slack of Amarillo, Texas, and Dennis Andrews (Lindsey) of Liberty Hill, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and twelve step-greatgrandchildren.
The family will be gathered at 2223 S. Ong Street, Amarillo, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 10:30am, officiated by Rev. Burt Palmer, Polk Street United Methodist Church. Private family burial will be at Ochiltree County Cemetery on the same date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Charis Bible College, for the benefit of the Building Fund, 800 Gospel Truth Way, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863; Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas for the benefit of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78723; or to a charity of your choice.
(Published by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Saturday, April 15, 2017)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
