James Darrell Witherington
January 17, 1928 - January 07, 2018
James Darrell Witherington was born the 17th of January in 1928 to Roy and Addie Witherington of Goshen Alabama. He graduated from Troy State University with a business degree while using the GI bill. JD was a Korean War veteran and served two tours of duty in South Vietnam. He also served in England, Washington DC, Germany, Texas and Alabama just to name a few of his duty stations. His retirement rank after 27 years of service was Chief Warrant Officer 4. JD had risen from a depression era childhood to a United States Army officer. He once said that although his childhood home had a floor, many of the neighbors did not. He was proud of that and his sharecropper family. His primary support came from his wife Dorothy Belle, from who he had survived by many years.
JD had four children, the first born to Dorothy and him in 1953. His surviving children are Dr. Mike Witherington, Dean Witherington and Paul David Witherington. Their son Alan died when he was just a few months old. He is also survived by one brother, Jerry Ronald Witherington, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Following his service to his country JD began teaching in Lawton at the University of Oklahoma for the FAA. After ten years he retired from that as well. After retirement he and his wife travelled extensively visiting children and grandchildren and enjoying south Florida.
JD Witherington had two very successful careers, three successful sons and lived a modest but fun filled life. He and Dorothy spent their last years together in Naples, Florida, but upon his beloved wife's passing and his failing health JD returned to Lawton to live in the VA where friends and family could come and visit him often.
Funeral Service
Whinery Huddleston Funeral Service
- Wednesday, January 10, 2018
- 11:00 AM
- 6210 NW Cache Road
Lawton, Oklahoma 73505
- Interment will follow at Fort Sill National Cemetery.
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