October 28, 1930 – September 18, 2009 Funeral Mass for Jewell Dewey â??J.D.â? Dodson, 78, will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Whitesboro with Rev. Jeremy Myers officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro. Services are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home of Whitesboro. Rosary will be held at 6:30 P.M. Monday, September 21, 2009 with a visitation to follow at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Mr. Dodson passed away on September 18, 2009 at the Whitesboro Health and Rehabilitation Center in Whitesboro, surrounded by his family.
J.D. was born on October 28, 1930 in Sherman, Texas to Virgil and Jewel May (Stone) Dodson. He joined the United States Navy in 1948 and in 1952 he transferred from the Navy to the United States Air Force. He transferred from the Air Force to keep from being shipped out to sea so he would be able to stay with his new bride. He married the love of his life Mary E. Yarasavage on June 7, 1952 in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. He was then sent to a Tropical island. J.D. served 20 years and retired from the Air Force, with his last tour of duty being in Vietnam. He was married to his wife for 57 years and lived in the Whitesboro area for 36 years, after living in many parts of the world as a military family. J. D. was well known by many of the area children as the school crossing guard on Union Street. He enjoyed seeing these children each and every day and many of them would bring him gifts. He also had a special sense of humor and he could put a smile on anyoneâ??s face. J.D. loved his caregivers and was loved by those that took care of him at Whitesboro Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Dodson of Whitesboro; 2 sons, John D. Dodson of Weaverville, California and David W. Dodson and wife Linda of McAlester, Oklahoma; 5 daughters, Debra A. Eldredge and husband Terry of Lewisville, Mary Beth Farmer and husband Bobby of Sadler, Laurie Sue Corcoran and husband John of Lindsay, Paula J. Dodson of Whitesboro and Jennifer M. Dodson of Whitesboro; a sister, Lorene Dodson of Paris, Arkansas; one brother, Melvin W. Dodson of South Dakota.; 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Jewel Dodson.
Pallbearers are: â??Sparkyâ? Gustafson, Jimmy Ferguson, Bobby Farmer, Terry Eldredge, John Corcoran, Keith Norvell and Gordon Theall.
Honorary Pallbearers are; Leslie â??Shortyâ? Dodson, Ray Dodson and Charlie Siesmore.
In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to donorsâ?? choice.