Roll Call Tribute

Published in the The Indianapolis (IN) Star on Sept. 21, 2014

Albert J. Oakes
Albert J. "Jack" Oakes
99, of Zionsville, passed away Thursday, September 18, 2014. Jack was born May 13, 1915 in Drew, MS to the late Albert J., Sr., and Annie Mae Raper Oakes. He was a graduate of Mississippi State and received his Master's and Doctorate from Texas A&M. Jack was a US Navy veteran of WWII where he served as a beach gun fire liaison officer in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters including D-Day and the Philippines.Jack served as a Research Agronomist with the US Department of Agriculture for over 35 years, where he traveled the world researching and collecting plants and grasses for the US government. Jack had a life-long love of plants. He authored several articles, co-authored books and had his own book about ornamental grasses published in 1990. At the time of his death, he was working on a book about vines.A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 22 at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church in Zionsville where friends are invited to gather from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.Albert is survived by his children, Suzanne Margaret Oakes Shick (Jack) of Virginia Beach, VA and John Peter Oakes (Pamela) of Woodbridge, VA; his wife, May Ritz Oakes and her children, William Gorrell (Mary), Patricia Garcia-Sanchez (Dom) and Lisa Klatka; six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Jack was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Ava Agnes Smits Oakes, nine brothers and sisters.Please visit http://www.flannerbuchanan.com to sign the online guest register. Arrangements: Flanner and Buchanan-Zionsville.

Funeral Home
Flanner & Buchanan Zionsville
105 W Pine Street Zionsville, IN 46077
(317) 873-3366