Roll Call Tribute
John Irwin '56 January 24, 2020 2:29 PM updated: January 24, 2020 2:33 PM
Klein Funeral Home - Champions obituary
16131 Champion Forest Dr.
Klein, TX 77379
(281) 320-2674
John Irwin
January 23, 1922 - January 21, 2020
John Lawrence Irwin, 97, passed away on January 21, 2020. He was born on January 23, 1922 in Oilton, Oklahoma. John grew up in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. He was an Eagle Scout who loved Texas A&M, fishing and working in his workshop. In 1942 he married Estelline Lockhart on Christmas Eve. Soon thereafter John entered the Army and fought in World War II. He served in the 103rd Cactus Division, 410th regiment in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He spent much of the brutal winter of 1944 in frozen foxholes near the infamous Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star. After being discharged from the Army, John attended Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, John was hired by Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At Sandia, he was involved in missile development and materials research and development. He worked there until retiring in 1984. John and Estelline had four daughters and were faithful members of Hoffmantown Baptist Church in Albuquerque. John also served for 8 years as the scoutmaster for Troop 292 in Albuquerque. In 1984, John and Estelline retired to Seguin, Texas where they built two homes. While in Seguin, John resumed an old and favorite hobby – free flight model airplanes. He was an active member of the Seguin Tri City Modelers and the Texas Cloud Climbers Free Flight Club from 1987 until 2011. During that time he built, flew, and crashed many an airplane at competitions. In their later years they moved to Cypress, Texas and finally to Spring, Texas. They were married 73 years before Estelline passed away in 2016. John became a Christian in his 40’s and thereafter held a steadfast faith in God’s truth and the salvation of Jesus. John and Estelline are survived by daughters Linda Campbell, Beverly Klein, Rebecca Buntin (husband, Paul), Robin Crawford (husband, Kelly); grandchildren Chris Campbell (wife, Miriam), Mike Campbell (wife, Tina), Melissa Gamez (husband, Jose), Tiffany Glenn, Aaron Buntin (wife, Laura), Erik Buntin, Katie Gold (husband, Mark), Travis Crawford (wife, Sarah Frances), Jamie Freeman (husband, Hayden) and 14 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to
https://www.honorflight.org>donate-now
16131 Champion Forest Dr.
Klein, TX 77379
(281) 320-2674
John Irwin
January 23, 1922 - January 21, 2020
John Lawrence Irwin, 97, passed away on January 21, 2020. He was born on January 23, 1922 in Oilton, Oklahoma. John grew up in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. He was an Eagle Scout who loved Texas A&M, fishing and working in his workshop. In 1942 he married Estelline Lockhart on Christmas Eve. Soon thereafter John entered the Army and fought in World War II. He served in the 103rd Cactus Division, 410th regiment in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He spent much of the brutal winter of 1944 in frozen foxholes near the infamous Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star. After being discharged from the Army, John attended Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, John was hired by Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At Sandia, he was involved in missile development and materials research and development. He worked there until retiring in 1984. John and Estelline had four daughters and were faithful members of Hoffmantown Baptist Church in Albuquerque. John also served for 8 years as the scoutmaster for Troop 292 in Albuquerque. In 1984, John and Estelline retired to Seguin, Texas where they built two homes. While in Seguin, John resumed an old and favorite hobby – free flight model airplanes. He was an active member of the Seguin Tri City Modelers and the Texas Cloud Climbers Free Flight Club from 1987 until 2011. During that time he built, flew, and crashed many an airplane at competitions. In their later years they moved to Cypress, Texas and finally to Spring, Texas. They were married 73 years before Estelline passed away in 2016. John became a Christian in his 40’s and thereafter held a steadfast faith in God’s truth and the salvation of Jesus. John and Estelline are survived by daughters Linda Campbell, Beverly Klein, Rebecca Buntin (husband, Paul), Robin Crawford (husband, Kelly); grandchildren Chris Campbell (wife, Miriam), Mike Campbell (wife, Tina), Melissa Gamez (husband, Jose), Tiffany Glenn, Aaron Buntin (wife, Laura), Erik Buntin, Katie Gold (husband, Mark), Travis Crawford (wife, Sarah Frances), Jamie Freeman (husband, Hayden) and 14 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to
https://www.honorflight.org>donate-now
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