John Abernathy Stallings' Obituary
John Abernathy Stallings
John was born in Leonard, Texas on April 22, 1923 and passed away in Dallas, Texas on February 17, 2020.
John was a graduate of Leonard High School and the University of Texas. He was a decorated pilot with the US Army Air Corp in WWII, where he flew C-46 twin-engine cargo planes that supplied the Allied Forces in Southeast Asia. He had 517 missions flying the dangerous Burma Hump as part of the famous Flying Tigers. John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice and the Air Metal five times.
Following the war he began his business career in Santa Fe, New Mexico as Vice President of the Santa Fe National Bank. Murray Investments brought John back to Dallas as the Manager of the Income Property Loan Department. In 1964 he was became the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Exchange Park. He later joined Henry S Miller Company as Executive Vice President of the Office Building Division and a member of the Board of Directors in 1972. During his long and distinguished career with the Miller Company, he assembled and acquired the site for ARCO Tower, now Energy Plaza. Assembled and acquired the site for Trammel Crow’s San Jacinto Tower, now 2100 Ross Avenue; and Diamond Shamrock Tower, now KPMG Centre. Along with numerous locations for Carl Sewell automobile dealerships.
By far the most important event in his life took place on Sunday August 26, 1951. That is the date he married Frances LaJuan Ellis in Tulia, Texas. They raised their two daughters Janet and Jay in Lake Highlands on Caribou Trail, where he was a member of the Richardson ISD school board for 9 years. An avid golfer, John was a member of Bent Tree Country Club for over 40 years. He enjoyed hunting and fly-fishing and made life long friends on hunting trips to Argentina and fishing trips to Vermejo, New Mexico.
John was proceeded in death by his beloved wife LaJuan in 1986. John is survived by Janet Stallings, Jay Stallings Thomas and husband William. Daughters Callie Thomas, Kevin Hoye and great granddaughter Clementine; Kelsy Thomas and Josh Lowe; and Frances Thomas.
The service is at Wildwood Chapel, Restland Funeral Home, Dallas, TX Friday, February 21, 2020 at 3:00 pm. The burial is private and no visitation is scheduled.
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