Major (USAF Ret) Hampton

Major John D. Hampton Age 88, went to be the Lord on Friday November 26, 2010. Funeral Services Major (USAF Ret) John D. Hampton Age 88, went to be with the Lord on Friday November 26, 2010. Funeral Services will be 12-noon on Thursday December 2, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Waco. Visitation will be 6 to 8PM Wednesday December 1, 2010 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia at a later date.

Major Hampton was born August 14, 1922 in Rowena, Texas to Elmer and Emily Hampton. After graduating from High School he moved to McCamey, TX where he soon met the love of his life, Mary Lou Owen on a blind date. They were married on April 26, 1942.

Soon after marrying they moved to Texas City where he was inducted into the US Army. After being accepted for Officer Training he became a bomber pilot in the US Army Air Corp. He served in the Pacific as a “Flying Tiger” under the command of General Claire Lee Chennault during the China, Burma, India campaign during World War II.

He proudly survived an airplane crash that occurred on his birthday on the last day of World War II.

After World War II he briefly attended Texas Tech University but decided to make his career in the US Air Force. After serving in the Korean War he was stationed in various locations around the world holding administrative positions as well as being an intelligence officer. His last assignment before retirement was as Director of Operations Analysis at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base.

After retirement he served as Associate Director of the Austin & Travis County Community Council. While in that position he was instrumental in obtaining recognition and significant salary increases for Texas registered nurses.

After being ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister he moved to Tulare California to pastor First Southern Baptist Church of Tulare California. From the ministry he went into teaching. Through the years he engaged in a life long love of learning and pursued his education, achieving a Master of Arts degree, Cum Laude.

Until the day that he died, by the appointment of President Eisenhower and the affirmation of the US Senate, he remained a “Regular Officer” of the United States Air Force on inactive duty.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Mary Lou; two daughters, Deena Hampton and Carla Bakri and her husband Mahmoud Bakri; one son, Wade Hampton; a sister Betty Evans; four grandchildren, Tarik Bakri and his wife Stacy, Deena Shareen Bakri, Brittany Hampton and Kasi Hampton; two great grandchildren Travis and Brady Bakri.

The family invites you to leave memories and messages at www.gracegardensfh.com.

Funeral Service

12PM ,Thursday, December 2, 2010
First Baptist Church of Waco
500 Webster Ave. Waco, Tx

Visitation

6 - 8PM ,Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel
8220 Woodway Drive Waco, TX 76712

Interment

Alington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery Arlinton, VA 22211