John Waldrip, 90, of Bertram, Texas, passed away October 9, 2013. He was born in Weatherford, Texas, on October 1, 1923, the son of Frank Rayford Waldrip and Willie Mae Dozier Waldrip.
John is survived by wife, Gayle; daughters Jan Biffle and husband Les of Cave Creek, Arizona; Carol Hamilton and husband Donny of Smithville, Texas; Kay Susie Teague and husband Brad of Midlothian; sons John Waldrip, Jr. of Fort Worth, Texas; Mike Morgan and wife Ginger of Bertram, Texas; Mark Morgan and wife Julie of Bertram, Texas.
He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Lorie Baez and husband John of Austin; Shannon Strong-Lerma and husband Fernando of Lakeway; Tim Morgan of Leander; Joni Morgan of Burnet; Jenni Roemisch and husband Matt of Abilene; Cliff Biffle and wife Jeannette of Berkeley, California; Adam Biffle of Peoria, Arizona; Casey Eason of Fort Worth; Stephanie Baker and husband Kevin of Little Elm; and Kylie Lindsey and husband Kevin of Midlothian. He is also survived by ten great-grandchildren.
After graduating from high school, John started college at Schreiner Institute in Kerrville. On December 7, 1941 the bombing of Pearl Harbor caused him to enlist in the Army-Air Corp as an aviation cadet. After training at Sheppard AFB, Ellington Field and Las Vegas and Florida he became a Bombardier. He was assigned to a B-17 crew and was shipped to England where his crew joined the 490th Bomb Group. After 35 missions and the end of World War II he went into the insurance business for a short time before joining the Texas National Guard. His military career continued for 36 years before retiring as a Brevet Brigadier General, Chief of Staff, 49th Armored Division. He received many awards and decorations, one of which was the Legion of Merit. After retiring from the military, he began working as a paralegal in Austin and worked there for 5 years before again retiring to begin raising cattle in Burnet County.
John was ill for quite some time with congestive heart failure and the last time he was in the hospital he told one of the nurses he had two goals in life….one was to live until October 1st when he would celebrate his 90th birthday (he made that goal). The other was to live until October 12th when he and Gayle would celebrate their 50th anniversary (he missed that goal by 3 days but his memorial service is being held on that day in order to honor this wish of his).
A memorial service will be on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 3:00p.m. at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home. Conducted by Brad Teague, John’s son-in-law.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet, Texas. Condolences may be made at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com
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