John Milroy Purdy Jr.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 10am Saturday, Feb. 8 at First Colleyville Church, 5300 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX.

SERVICE: Interment will be held at 11:15am on March 20, 2020 at the DFW National Cemetery.

MEMORIALS: Donations in Jack’s honor may be made to the charities he supported, including those benefiting veterans, Alzheimer’s Association, and Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County.

John “Jack” was born Jan. 19, 1931 in Detroit, MI to John M Purdy and Esther B Purdy. He graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1950. He joined the Marines in 1951 and bravely served in the Korean War where he was wounded after 10 months on the front lines, earning a Purple Heart. After honorably completing his service, he joined the Air Force in 1955 to fulfill his dream of flying. He was a pilot for the Strategic Air Command, flying KC-135 Strato Tankers. He flew refueling missions during the Vietnam War.

Among his career honors, he received several medals for meritorious achievement and was commended for his leadership, outstanding airmanship, and courage on successful and important missions under hazardous conditions in Southeast Asia and other regions.

He retired in 1971 as a Major and moved to Fort Worth. He began working for TXU, a career that culminated in a management position in operations at the Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant. He retired for the second time in 1993.

Jack met the love of his life, Marian Frances Register, at an Air Force party in Savannah. They married in 1957 and together they raised three daughters and had three beautiful grandchildren. He was a dedicated husband and father. After his retirement from TXU, Jack and Marian travelled the world together, enjoying the cruising life. They were married for 57 years before she passed away in 2015.

Jack’s family was blessed to learn many valuable lessons from him, including always being kind, assuming the best in people, and that laughter is the best medicine.

He was kind, brilliant, brave, funny, loving and a true gentleman. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marian, and sister, Jane Fintor.

SURVIVORS: Loving daughters Lesa Key and husband, Ken, Paula Purdy, and Brenda Purdy Feilke and husband, Kelly; grandchildren John Connor Purdy, John Locke Feilke and Lola Sophia Feilke; sister-in-law Peggy Register; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.