Don Stirton

Graveside services for Don Stirton, 95, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec.5, at Union Cemetery near Teague.

There will be visitation with the family at the cemetery from 1 until 2 p.m. prior to the service.

Donald L. Stirton was born on July 5, 1929, in Kansas City, Mo., to Frank and Josephine (Miller) Stirton and passed away at age 95 following a short illness on Nov. 29, 2024.

Mr. Stirton served 20 years in The United States Air Force, beginning as an enlisted man during the Berlin Airlift and later as the flight engineer on B36 bombers, as a navigator on B47 bombers, all part of the Strategic Air Command, then as a squadron commander, retiring as a major.

After retirement in 1968, Mr. Stirton received a degree in industrial arts and taught at Pearland High School and Fairfield High School. After moving to Freestone, he became a rancher, served on the local Farm Bureau for 40 years, enjoyed his coffee group of friends at the Freestone Store and later the Freestone Center for many years, and took wonderful care of his family, all five generations of them. All of these people had or have their stories about his help and influence in their lives.

Mr. Stirton is survived by his wife of 69 years, Charlsie Yielding Stirtonof Freestone; his daughter, Donna Williams of Freestone, two grandsons, Ryan and wife Lacee Stratemann of Pleasanton, and Paul Stratemann of Floresville; his sisters, Jane Woods (Ray) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Judy Holub of Wamego, Kan.; and one brother, Bill Stirton of Muscotah, Kan. He is also survived by two great-grandsons, Weston and Wade Stratemann.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in memory of Don to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 Please visit our website at www.bowersfuneralhome. net to sign the memorial guestbook or to leave a message for the family.

Ricks-Bowers Funeral Home 814 Main Street Jewett, TX 75846 903-626-5458