Army (Ret.) US Col. Jimmy Lee Whitehead

Col. Whitehead served in the U.S. Army for 32 years. He defended our country in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was proud to have been assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He served at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Richardson, Alaska, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, New Cumberland Army Depot, Pennsylvania, Stuttgart, Germany and Fort Lee, Virginia. He retired from the Army in April, 1980. After retiring, he joined the Bechtol Corporation as a logistics manager for the building of the Riyadh International Airport in Saudi Arabia. He graduated in 1951 from McNeese State University and earned a logistics management Master's Degree from Florida Institute of Technology in 1979. Jimmy was a high school football coach for St. Louis Catholic Academy in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Fort Richardson, Alaska and Stuttgart, Germany. He loved football and his wife always said she was a football widow every fall.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandfather, James Robert Lockett; grandmother, Mattie Lambert Lockett and wife Elaine Clooney Whitehead. He was a devoted father to daughters, Terry Kathryn Harris of San Antonio, TX and Rebecca Leigh Martin and spouse Michael of Bulverde, TX; devoted grandfather to Lindsay Elaine Richard and spouse Michael; Jaclyn Watkins Smith and spouse Jared; Christopher Ryan Harris, Andrew Jordan Harris and spouse Alexandra; great-grandfather to Carys Everly Richard.

Jimmy was a devoted husband of 65 years who supported his wife in her struggle with Alzheimer's for three years. He never left his wife's side and is reunited with her in death. We honor your love and devotion to country and family. Rest now. We love you.

SERVICE

FRIDAY

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

12:00 P.M.

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

1416 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.