James (Jimmie) Marshall Lovell's Obituary
James (Jimmie) Lovell, 90, a well-known Dallas political worker, oilman, salesman, newspaper editor, explorer, archaeologist, and storyteller passed away on May 27, after a long illness. Lovell was an active member of the Press Club of Dallas, served as Board Chairman from 2002 to 2003, and received the press club’s North Texas Legends award in 2011. Jimmie was born on September 1, 1926, in Fort Worth, the son of James G. and Jessie Leigh Lovell. He attended both elementary and junior high school in Ft. Worth. His family moved to California and Jimmie attended Woodrow High School in Long Beach, California, where he served as class president and met his future wife, Wyn Lockhart. After graduation from Woodrow High School in 1943, Jimmie enlisted in the Navy and fought in the first landing in Taraw, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Shortly after his return home to California in 1945, he and his parents moved back to Ft. Worth. But, Jimmie returned to Long Beach in 1948 to work and to ask Wyn for her hand in marriage. They were married on Wyn’s birthday, February 19, 1949, at Wee Kirk of the Heather in Pasadena, California by the archbishop of Canterbury, Comus Gorden Lang. Jimmie and Wyn moved back to Texas to raise a family. Among his many careers, Jimmie was known as the Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, Texas, where he served as president of the chamber of commerce in the early 1950’s. Jimmie Lovell leaves behind his beloved wife, Wyn, son Michael, daughter Jessalu, and granddaughter, Garna Leigh Wright. Funeral services will be held in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 3, 2017. Visitation will be Friday, June 2, 2017, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A catered, one-hour reception will immediately follow the funeral service. Burial will follow at the Aurora Cemetery, 507 Cemetery Rd., Aurora, TX 76078. Maps will be provided. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243.
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