Mexia Daily News - Jan. 29, 2005 edition John E. Minchew Services for John Edwin Minchew will be held on Sunday, January 30, at 2 p.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Visitation will be Saturday, January 29 at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home of Mexia. Burial will be in Point Enterprise. John, who was 79, died Friday Jan. 28, 2005, at Parkview Regional Hospital in Mexia. John Minchew was born January 21,1926, in Fairfield, Texas to William Leroy Minchew and Ruby Alice Rosser Minchew. He was drafted into the Army in 1944 shortly after graduating from Fairfield High School in 1943. After boot camp, he was sent to Germany to join the U.S. forces in combat during World War II. He finished his first enlistment on May 26, 1946, and enlisted in the active reserves. John attended Freestone County Vocational School in 1949. He was called once again to proudly defend his country and was activated September 28, 1950. He served in the US Army as a Sergeant in Company F, 38 Infantry. On January 7, 1951, while attempting to help two of his fellow soldiers who had fallen behind, he was captured by the North Koreans. He spent the next 955 days being tortured, starved, and witnessing events he never imagined possible. On August 18, 1953, for political reasons only, he was released and then discharged on November 11, 1953. On January 2, 1954, less than one year after his release, he married Mary Anna Schuster, his beloved, who never gave up on him returning home. Unto this union were blessed six children. He was a retired salesman for the Berry-Barnett Wholesale Grocery Company and Mexia Building Supply. Mr. Minchew was a Baptist and was a longtime member of Lancaster Post 4694, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Mexia. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and various other military honors. John Minchew was preceded in death by his loving parents, and two sisters, Carolyn Jean Minchew, and Willie Bell Greening. He was also preceded in death by six brothers, Herbert Minchew, Henry Minchew, Cecil Minchew, Kenneth Minchew, Sonny Minchew and David Minchew. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Mary; four daughters - Mary Gwendolyn Navarro and son-in-law Lupe of Pleasanton; Christine Elaine Ezell and son-in-law Terry of Fairfield; Suzanne Thornton and son-in-law Doyce Thornton of Mexia; and Margaret Catherine Garvin and son-in-law Paul of Mexia. He is survived by two sons, Raymond Minchew of Navasota and Steven Minchew and daughter-in-law Theresa of Mexia. He is survived by four grandchildren, Stefan James Minchew, Ethan John Minchew, Terry Alexander Minchew, and Candice Renee Minchew. He is also survived by four sisters - Margie Browne, Edna Smith, Mary Alice Teer, and Ann Smith; two brothers; Aubrey Minchew and Dean Minchew; and by his in-laws - Mike and Carol Schuster, Edmund and Roxianne Schuster and Helen Matthews, all of Mexia, Joe and Sylvia Schuster of Bryan. Pallbearers are Paul Garvin, Terry Ezell, Warren Matthews, Anthony Schuster, Emmit Schuster, Ethan Minchew and Lupe Navarro. Designated as honorary pallbearers are longtime friends Bill Wind, Royce Slater, Neil Windland, and son-in-law, Slim Thornton.