Please see full obituary below with link to funeral home website where you may share memories and offer condolences.
https://www.distinctivelife.com/obituaries/Jd-Daniel/#!/TributeWall
Services are pending. Distinctive Life of Dallas has been entrusted
with arrangements. Interment will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
with a missing-man formation…..all dates are yet to be determined.
The family may be reached at
(936) 558-8643.
Thank you,
~ Carol
Subject: death of DL Captain Jewell D.
"JD" Daniel, age 87
~ IN MEMORY ~
DL Capt. J. D. Daniel
May 5, 1936 ~ November 24, 2023
As noted on friends/family Facebook postings, the
passing of retired Delta Air Lines pilot Captain Jewell Demoye “JD” Daniel, age
87. JD joined Delta Air Lines 11-30-1964
and was Dallas based, and then based ATL/031 prior to retiring. Please look for more information to follow in
the days ahead.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary for JD Daniel
Mark Twain said “Find a job you enjoy doing and
you will never work a day in your life. By that definition, J. DeMoye “JD”
Daniel never worked a day in his life.
Born in Bivins, Cass County, Texas on May 5, 1936,
JD passed from this life on November 24, 2023. Two children, Jay DeMoye Daniel
and Susan Lynn Daniel, predeceased him, as did his parents, J.K. and Lucille
Parker Daniel.
Children Dale DeMoye Daniel and wife Rebecca,
Cindy Daniel Furr and husband Mike, Tim Daniel, and Sherry Daniel survive their
father. Grandchildren Virginia Robertson, Dale DeMoye Daniel Jr., Cristin &
Heath Crofford, Doug & Kodi Burdette, Mandy Daniel, Holly Daniel, Lensi
Daniel, Kayle Nichols, Maddie Dayberry, and 15 great-grandchildren round out
the family that called him PawPaw.
Gwen Daniel Goodpasture and her husband, Tommy,
along with niece Shanie and nephew Eddie loved him as their favorite brother
and uncle.
JD started work at age 9, throwing daily
newspapers for the Odessa American, going door-to-door collecting payments from
the 350 homes on his route every Saturday morning. He partnered with his father
at age 14, owning and managing rental properties. At age 18, he enlisted in the
Army National Guard, then transferred to the United States Air Force. At
discharge, he was employed by Delta Airlines where he finished #1 in his
training class. Simultaneous to his job at Delta, he was an active partner in a
350-acre Angus cattle operation. Their ranch earned honors from the Texas &
Southwest Cattle Raisers Association as well as awards for soil and water
conservation.
JD was a pilot’s pilot and took to aircraft with a
passion that was unrivaled. He began flying and then private instructing while
in the Air Force, holding a variety of ratings in his aviation career. At his
retirement from Delta Airlines, after 32 years, he had held every pilot’s
position within the company. He continued his career for an additional 25 years
for BCM Corporation, piloting their Boeing 737 all around the world. When asked
when he thought he might hang up his wings, he pointed out “I’m the only pilot
that knows where to get a good cheeseburger in Kazakhstan.”
In addition to his paying gigs, JD owned and
piloted several private aircraft, including a World War II era Boeing Stearman
and his beloved Vietnam-era Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. His aircraft collection
took him to air shows all over the country, performing aerobatics and combat
maneuvers with a troupe of colorful characters, even performing in the
world-famous Oshkosh, Wisconsin EAA AirVenture.
There were many awards, trophies, and accolades
but the most prestigious was the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognizing
over 50 years of aircraft safety.
But wait! There’s more. JD was an avid outdoorsman
– bird hunting, walking, running, biking, and competing in skeet shooting,
boxing, baseball, and tennis. His favorite destination, the Hawaiian island
O’ahu, afforded breathtaking views while he hiked the trails to the top of
Diamond Head.
JD’s beloved family and countless friends and
colleagues take comfort that missing him will be replaced by knowing he lived
his best life to the fullest and without regret – bucket lists were checked off
and diems were carped!
Fly high JetDog!
No comments:
Post a Comment