Joe Aldridge, 76, of Wagoner, died at his home Sunday, December 1, 1996, following a long illness. Services were held Tuesday at Hersman-Nichols Chapel in Wagoner. Burial followed at Memorial Park Cemetery in Muskogee.
Mr. Aldridge was born September 20, 1920, in Oakland, Arkansas, to Nat and Virgie Aldridge. His childhood and early adult years were spent in Old Mannford, Oklahoma.
After graduating from high school in 1937, he went into the U. S. Air Corps, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. His first departure for overseas duty was from Fort MacArthur, California in December 1941. Halfway to Hawaii, his unit turned back due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. His next departure was from Hamilton Field, California, In February 1942 by LB30 bomber to Australia. During his tour of duty in the south Pacific, he served as a gunner, remote control mechanic, quality control inspector and maintenance inspector for armament equipment on B17 and B29 aircraft. On leave in 1944, he met and married Juanita Parker.
When World War II ended, he briefly joined his father in the grocery business in Keystone, Oklahoma. Soon he began attending Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, earning under graduate and master's degrees in education. His career included 14 years as a teacher at West Junior High in Muskogee, seven years as a counselor at Muskogee High School and 12 years as a psychometrist for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Mr. Aldridge attended the First United Methodist Church of Wagoner and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He loved gardening, skeet shooting and crossword puzzles.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry Glen, who died in infancy in 1948, and John Michael, who died in 1985.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Juanita; three sons, Jack Aldridge of Wagoner, Jim Aldridge of Tulsa and Joe Aldridge of Wagoner; three daughters, Jo Nita Sullivan of Wagoner, Jane Wineland of Edmond and Janet Sharrock of Fort Knox, Kentucky; one sister, Darlene Arkison of Tulsa; and 11 grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Jack, Jim, Jo, Nat and John Aldridge and Lanny Andrews. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Holmes, Jeff Sharrock, Wally Golding, Bill Arkison, Mike Wineland and Phillip and Vernon Sullivan.
Arrangements were under the direction of Hersman-Nichols Funeral Home.
Obituary provided by Charlotte Stevens Schneider
Mr. Aldridge was born September 20, 1920, in Oakland, Arkansas, to Nat and Virgie Aldridge. His childhood and early adult years were spent in Old Mannford, Oklahoma.
After graduating from high school in 1937, he went into the U. S. Air Corps, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. His first departure for overseas duty was from Fort MacArthur, California in December 1941. Halfway to Hawaii, his unit turned back due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. His next departure was from Hamilton Field, California, In February 1942 by LB30 bomber to Australia. During his tour of duty in the south Pacific, he served as a gunner, remote control mechanic, quality control inspector and maintenance inspector for armament equipment on B17 and B29 aircraft. On leave in 1944, he met and married Juanita Parker.
When World War II ended, he briefly joined his father in the grocery business in Keystone, Oklahoma. Soon he began attending Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, earning under graduate and master's degrees in education. His career included 14 years as a teacher at West Junior High in Muskogee, seven years as a counselor at Muskogee High School and 12 years as a psychometrist for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Mr. Aldridge attended the First United Methodist Church of Wagoner and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He loved gardening, skeet shooting and crossword puzzles.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry Glen, who died in infancy in 1948, and John Michael, who died in 1985.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Juanita; three sons, Jack Aldridge of Wagoner, Jim Aldridge of Tulsa and Joe Aldridge of Wagoner; three daughters, Jo Nita Sullivan of Wagoner, Jane Wineland of Edmond and Janet Sharrock of Fort Knox, Kentucky; one sister, Darlene Arkison of Tulsa; and 11 grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Jack, Jim, Jo, Nat and John Aldridge and Lanny Andrews. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Holmes, Jeff Sharrock, Wally Golding, Bill Arkison, Mike Wineland and Phillip and Vernon Sullivan.
Arrangements were under the direction of Hersman-Nichols Funeral Home.
Obituary provided by Charlotte Stevens Schneider
Joe Aldridge, 76, of Wagoner, died at his home Sunday, December 1, 1996, following a long illness. Services were held Tuesday at Hersman-Nichols Chapel in Wagoner. Burial followed at Memorial Park Cemetery in Muskogee.
Mr. Aldridge was born September 20, 1920, in Oakland, Arkansas, to Nat and Virgie Aldridge. His childhood and early adult years were spent in Old Mannford, Oklahoma.
After graduating from high school in 1937, he went into the U. S. Air Corps, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. His first departure for overseas duty was from Fort MacArthur, California in December 1941. Halfway to Hawaii, his unit turned back due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. His next departure was from Hamilton Field, California, In February 1942 by LB30 bomber to Australia. During his tour of duty in the south Pacific, he served as a gunner, remote control mechanic, quality control inspector and maintenance inspector for armament equipment on B17 and B29 aircraft. On leave in 1944, he met and married Juanita Parker.
When World War II ended, he briefly joined his father in the grocery business in Keystone, Oklahoma. Soon he began attending Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, earning under graduate and master's degrees in education. His career included 14 years as a teacher at West Junior High in Muskogee, seven years as a counselor at Muskogee High School and 12 years as a psychometrist for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Mr. Aldridge attended the First United Methodist Church of Wagoner and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He loved gardening, skeet shooting and crossword puzzles.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry Glen, who died in infancy in 1948, and John Michael, who died in 1985.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Juanita; three sons, Jack Aldridge of Wagoner, Jim Aldridge of Tulsa and Joe Aldridge of Wagoner; three daughters, Jo Nita Sullivan of Wagoner, Jane Wineland of Edmond and Janet Sharrock of Fort Knox, Kentucky; one sister, Darlene Arkison of Tulsa; and 11 grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Jack, Jim, Jo, Nat and John Aldridge and Lanny Andrews. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Holmes, Jeff Sharrock, Wally Golding, Bill Arkison, Mike Wineland and Phillip and Vernon Sullivan.
Arrangements were under the direction of Hersman-Nichols Funeral Home.
Obituary provided by Charlotte Stevens Schneider
Mr. Aldridge was born September 20, 1920, in Oakland, Arkansas, to Nat and Virgie Aldridge. His childhood and early adult years were spent in Old Mannford, Oklahoma.
After graduating from high school in 1937, he went into the U. S. Air Corps, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. His first departure for overseas duty was from Fort MacArthur, California in December 1941. Halfway to Hawaii, his unit turned back due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. His next departure was from Hamilton Field, California, In February 1942 by LB30 bomber to Australia. During his tour of duty in the south Pacific, he served as a gunner, remote control mechanic, quality control inspector and maintenance inspector for armament equipment on B17 and B29 aircraft. On leave in 1944, he met and married Juanita Parker.
When World War II ended, he briefly joined his father in the grocery business in Keystone, Oklahoma. Soon he began attending Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, earning under graduate and master's degrees in education. His career included 14 years as a teacher at West Junior High in Muskogee, seven years as a counselor at Muskogee High School and 12 years as a psychometrist for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Mr. Aldridge attended the First United Methodist Church of Wagoner and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He loved gardening, skeet shooting and crossword puzzles.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry Glen, who died in infancy in 1948, and John Michael, who died in 1985.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Juanita; three sons, Jack Aldridge of Wagoner, Jim Aldridge of Tulsa and Joe Aldridge of Wagoner; three daughters, Jo Nita Sullivan of Wagoner, Jane Wineland of Edmond and Janet Sharrock of Fort Knox, Kentucky; one sister, Darlene Arkison of Tulsa; and 11 grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Jack, Jim, Jo, Nat and John Aldridge and Lanny Andrews. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Holmes, Jeff Sharrock, Wally Golding, Bill Arkison, Mike Wineland and Phillip and Vernon Sullivan.
Arrangements were under the direction of Hersman-Nichols Funeral Home.
Obituary provided by Charlotte Stevens Schneider
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