John Thornton Deden

John Thornton Deden, born October 14, 1924 passed away on June 16, 2011 after a long battle with cardio-pulmonary disease. He leaves behind his loving and beloved wife of 65 years, Anna Arrington Deden, their daughter Ann Deden, her husband Andrew Walls and their son Travis, and daughter Cassie Wiley, her husband John Wiley and their children Kristen and Drew.

John Deden was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Laura Clyde Taylor Deden and Otto John Deden. During World War II, he flew photo reconnaissance missions in Europe. After the war, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from The Aeronautical University in Chicago, Illinois. The major focus of his career with Honeywell and TRW was aerospace engineering. With Dresser, he worked on sensors and controls for offshore oil drilling.

John never lost his love of airplanes and flying. He started building radio-controlled model airplanes as a child, and continued to design, build and fly them throughout his life. He also enjoyed writing stories and painting landscapes.

In lieu of flowers for those desiring, memorial gifts may be made in John Deden’s honor to the Saint Stephen’s Society at Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Rd., Sugar Land, Texas 77478.

Arrangements under the direction of The Settegast-Kopf Company@Sugar Creek, Sugar Land, TX.