JOHN L. FAULKINBERRY

Graveside services for John L. Faulkinberry, 95, of Bullard will be held on Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM at Rosedale Cemetery in Gladewater with Rev. Mark Skorheim and Drs. Gary and Randy Fitzgerald officiating and under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler.

Mr. Faulkinberry passed away on June 9, 2008 at Legacy Hospice in Tyler.

He was born on March 21, 1913 in Blanche, Tennessee to the late John Leonard and Minnie May Faulkinberry. John graduated from Marshall Junior College in 1930 where he played football. He received a BA degree from Austin College in 1935 where he also played football on scholarship. In 1966 he received a Master's Degree from Baylor University and in 1972 received his PHD from the University of Southern Mississippi.

John served as an artillery executive in the Third Army commanded by Patton. He saw action in France and Germany and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged in 1943 holding the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Other than the 8 years he spent operating a dairy farm following his return from the war, John spent his entire career in education. He taught and coached for 24 years in a number of public schools in East Texas. The last 8 years of his career were spent working for the Mississippi State Department planning and developing education programs for public schools in Mississippi.

John was a devout Christian who taught Sunday School and helped in the building of several churches. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bullard.

John's life can be summed up as one dedicated to service. He served the Lord, his family, his country, and the many young people he helped educate and guide during his working career.

John was married to Mary Evelyn McComic for 56 years and will be buried next to her. He married Dorothy Jean Gatewood in November 1997, and they were married until her death in February 2006.

He is survived by a son, John L. Faulkinberry III and wife Greta of Bullard; three grandchildren, Gay Lynn Emerine and husband Shain of Bullard, John L. Faulkinberry IV and wife Laurie of Houston, and Julie Ann Adcock and husband Billy of Houston; and eight great-grandchildren, Rebekah and Rachael Emerine, Mary Elizabeth (Ellie), Carolyn, Catherine, Heidi, and John Leonard Faulkinberry V, Aiden Adcock, and a ninth great grandchild is due in October.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Blackmon, Thomas Blackmon, Quentin Ott, and Gary Alford.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2008 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, Texas 75703.