Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....SHERRARD, WRIGHT JACOB August 16, 2008
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Gina Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006026 August 21, 2008, 6:15 pm

News Star World Aig 20, 2008
BRIGADIER GENERAL WRIGHT JACOB SHERRARD, USAF

Groce Funeral Home

Arden, NC

Brigadier General Wright Jacob Sherrard, USAF retired, known as Jake to his 
friends and family, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Saturday, 
August 16, 2008 in Asheville, NC. Jake was born in Bienville, Louisiana on 
April 4, 1917. He was one of six children (4 boys and 2 girls) of Emma Simpson 
Sherrard and Edwin Sherrard.

In 1939 during his senior year he left Northwestern State University in 
Natchitoches, Louisiana to join the Army Air Corps flight training program in 
San Antonio, Texas. He graduated a 2nd lieutenant with the class of 40E and 
was assigned to fly troop transport and cargo to Central America and Labrador. 
In WWII he flew allied paratroopers in the North African and Sicilian 
campaigns where he was shot down over the Mediterranean. Returning from Europe 
in 1944 he became the base commander of Stout AFB in Indianapolis, Indiana at 
the tender young age of 26. Later at Fort Benning, Georgia he earned his 
paratrooper wings. In 1953 he received his degree in Russian studies from 
Syracuse University before being assigned to the American Embassy in Moscow, 
Russia as the Air Attaché. Soon after returning from Russia he attended and 
graduated from the prestigious National War College in Washington, DC. He 
proudly served his country for a total of 35 years, finally retiring in 
February 1973 from MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. Among his many medals, he 
earned the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1973 he and his wife moved to Tallahassee, FL where they spent more than 30 
happy years. After a full military career he went back to work for the state 
of Florida, first as the assistant to the Director of the Florida Department 
of Energy, then for a short while as the Director, before illness forced his 
second retirement in 1976.

He married Dagmar Petersen of Atlanta, Georgia in 1946. They had three 
daughters: Deborah Ringstrom of Saugerties, NY, Donna Leonard of Asheville, NC 
and Kista Bryant of Lenoir, NC who predeceased her father in 2003. In addition 
to being survived by his wife and two daughters, he is also survived by a 
grandson Jake Ringstrom of Denver, CO, three son in-laws (Melvin Ringstrom, 
Pete Leonard and Travis Bryant) and two brothers (Col. & Mrs. James Sherrard 
of Austin, TX and Mr. & Mrs. Ray Sherrard of Jackson, MS).

The family would like to thank all of the staff at Deerfield Retirement Center 
for their thoughtfulness, support and kind care of Jake during his last few 
years.

There will be a memorial service at the Episcopal chapel at Deerfield 
Retirement Center on Hendersonville Road at 2:00 PM on Thursday, August 21 
prior to interment at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC at a later 
date. In lieu of flowers, you may make remembrances to the Deerfield Chapel 
Fund or Samaritan's Purse. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ouachita/obits/s/sherrard1617gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb