Lieutenant Colonel John W. Polk

Lieutenant Colonel John Wesley Polk Jr.

John Wesley Polk, Jr of Abilene, passed away Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at home in the care of his family and our friends at Hendrick Hospice.

Services were at 3:00 pm Saturday, September 15, 2007 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Burial followed in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson.

John was born April 24, 1930 in Renner, Texas to Rev. John Wesley and Willie Lee Polk. He worked in the oilfield around Abilene to help finance his way through McMurry College. Graduating in 1952, John joined the United States Air Force to become a pilot. Shortly after the Korean conflict he graduated flight school and was deployed to Japan flying the F-86 Sabre jet.

In 1957 John married Betty Sue Stephens of Anson and continued his career with the Air Force. He spent a year in South Korea during the early 1960's. John was squadron commander of the 458^th TAS in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He retired as a Lt Colonel in 1975.

In 1984 he married Lou Williams in Abilene, Texas. He started his second career with the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance in Anson retiring in 1997. After retirement, his time was spent golfing and with family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, two brothers Kenneth and Bill Polk, one sister Geraldine Eaden and one son, John Wesley Polk, III. He was also preceded in death by his step-mother Pauline Polk.

He is survived by his wife Lou of Abilene, two sons, Brandon Polk and wife Wayna of Abilene, Chris Williams and wife Sheila of Stephenville, and two daughters Amy Polk of Dallas and Shelly Devillier and husband Brit of North Richland Hills. He is also survived by six grandchildren Wesley & Brady Polk of Abilene, Chad and Chase Williams of Stephenville, Taylor and Madie Devillier of North Richland Hills. He is also survived by his step-sister Jane Trent of Paducah.

Serving as honorary pallbearers were his golfing buddies.

Memorials may be made in honor of John Polk to Pioneer Drive Baptist Church "Arise and Build Fund" 701 South Pioneer, Abilene, Texas 79605 or to the donor's favorite charity.