JD Gresham's Obituary
Dads (JD) Obituary
MSGT (RET) JD Gresham of Dallas, Texas went home June 5, 2021 to be with the Lord and his loving wife, Norma Sue. JD was born January 19, 1925 in Gideon, Missouri, one of 4 siblings to George Gresham and Laura Phelps Gresham. He married Norma Sue Whitlock on December 18, 1950 in Piggott, Arkansas. They were married for 67 years.
He is survived by son Gresh and wife Julie, and 4 daughters and their husbands, Jennifer and Craig, Lisa and Jim, Sheryl and Randy and Beth and Jeff. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Bobby(Becca), Jillian(Justin), Lindsay(Ross), Jarrett(Holly), Jordan(Shawn), Courtney(Patrick), Cody, Reagan(Jon), Morgan, Travis, Corbin, Chandler(Josh), Jake, Madison, Jacob and 12 great-grandchildren Annaleigh, Myles, Rylee, Roman, Logan, Brinley, Ashlynn, Emory, Finley, Cadence, Braelyn, Jace, Ainsley and Axel along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
JD loved the Lord, his family, and the American flag. He served 22 years in the Army. He entered in 1943 to fight in World War II. He attended Basic Training in Camp Gruber, OK and assigned to Battery B, 232nd Field Artillery, 42nd Rainbow Division. After Basic Training, he was assigned to 2nd Squad, First Platoon of Company C, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division in Atape, New Guinea. He remained with Company C through the campaigns in the Philippines. The 43rd Division was designated as one of the leading elements for the Invasion of Japan and began daily regimented training on the north coast of Manila. Following the 2 Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, he was assigned to General Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. During the Korean War, in May 1952, he was assigned to the 45th Quartermaster Company, 45th Oklahoma National Guard Division as First Sergeant, where he remained through the Korean War. He also served as the Rifle Training Instructor at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, Illinois. JD retired from the US Army in September after achieving the rank of Master Sergeant (E8). He received 18 awards, commendations and ribbons, including the Bronze Star.
JD was a member and editor of the 42nd Rainbow Division Veterans. He ventured into many businesses after he retired from the army in 1965. Some of those include Educational Tours in Aurora, Il and Dallas Tx, 2 Music Stores, PDQ Delivery Service, and Palace Ice Arena in Richardson, Tx. His loves were watching his grands and great-grands perform and play sports, attending Rainbow luncheons, being with family and hugging anyone and everyone he met.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 10, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home. A Family Only Funeral Service will be Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:00 PM in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home with a Graveside at 1:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home for all.
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/55262/hash:3727F31E7A88A7A4
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