Mr. John Andrew Deskin Jr.'s Obituary
John Andrew Deskin, Jr. passed away peacefully at Thomas Regional Hospital in Fairhope, AL Tuesday, September 18, 2007. He is preceded in death by son: John Andrew III, brother: Gary, and sisters: Beth (Thompson), Jackie (Edwards) and Fern (Lewis). Also preceding him in death is step-daughter Vicki Vines. He is survived by beloved wife Julie A. Deskin (Johnson) of Foley, AL, sons: Roy Nash and William Jeff, daughter: Sherrie Lynn, daughters-in-law Sunilynn (Gray) and Mynette (Katz), grandchildren: Lindsey Elaine (Mrs. Timothy) Ferguson, Andrew ‘Drew-Bob’ Nash, Joshua Andrew, Nicholas Jordan and Joseph Anthony. He is also survived by step-children: Dr. Robert and Kelly McGinley of Mobile, AL, Scott and Katherine ‘Kit’ Alexander of Orange Beach, AL and step-grandchildren: Dallas Jones and Sydney Alexander. Born in Kerens, TX to John Andrew Sr. and Mildred Colvin Deskin on December 15, 1926. It was a small country town and in 1942, he joined the Navy and served honorably in WWII. Among his duties were clearing mines from harbors in the Pacific Far East. After the war, he earned his Electrical Engineering degree from SMU and married Lola Mae Nash, mother of his four children. He joined Collins Radio, where he worked for 32 years as a Field Engineer installing microwave stations in 46 of the 50 United States, Australia, the Canary Islands, Chile, Indonesia and Iran as well as for several of the Apollo missions. John enjoyed the outdoors. He hunted, fished and raised animals in his early years and picked up golf along the way. In later years, golf was his passion, and he hated missing a round for weather, course maintenance or, in later years, doctors’ appointments. The hint of a golf outing in Texas and he’d drop everything in Alabama and drive the twelve hours to Dallas to play with friends and family. One tournament, in particular was a ‘must’ in his calendar ‘ the Crume Wide Open. In honor of John’s passing, the tournament winner gets his name put on the ‘John Deskin Cup’ John gave of himself and his time to many. He was a Founding Charter Member of the Plano-Richardson Elks Lodge #2485. As a life member of the Richardson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8627, he seldom missed an opportunity to visit friends there. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner. He had a smile, handshake and joke for everyone he met, and made friends easily around the globe during his 80 years. Visitation will be held Friday, September 21 from 6:00 ‘ 8:00 P.M. at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. Services will be Saturday, September 22 at 10:00 A.M. at Restland’s Wildwood Chapel. Graveside service and interment held afterward at the Prairie Point Cemetery in Bazette, Navarro County, TX.
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