J.D. Sexton

MSG J D Sexton

Master Sergeant J D Sexton, U.S. Army retired, died July 2, 2017. A native of Crenshaw County, Alabama, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), entering at age 15, serving for two years; was a welder at Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation, Mobile, AL. He was called into the U.S. Army during WW II, where he served in the European Theater of Operations and was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. He was spared deployment to the Pacific Theater when the war was ended by the use of the atomic bomb. J D rejoined the Army Reserve in 1957 and retired as a Master Sergeant with 28 years of military service. He worked as an auto body repairman and painter, and later for the Federal Civil Service, 89th U.S. Army Reserve Command.

He is survived by his wife, Melvina (whom he called “Sugar”), a native of Pfeifer, KS, daughter Charlene, Ph.D, LCSW (Joe Hesse); son J. Stan, J.D. a lawyer (Tommye); grandchildren Chris Sexton, Ph.D., developmental psychologist, (Dr. Chris Lominska); Jay, Professor of History, University of Missouri (Julie Wood); Caroline Hesse, MA, bilingual, bicultural educator (Haman Sharma); great-grandchildren Sophie and Benjamin Lominska, and Georgia and Stella Sexton. Also surviving are a devoted niece, Michele Cochran Reese (Kevin); a devoted nephew, Douglas Davis (Allicia); and a true, dear Alabama friend, Grant Vickery.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on July 6, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 312 N.E. Freeman, in Topeka with visitation at the church at 9:00 AM. A luncheon reception will follow in the church basement immediately after Mass. Inurnment will be at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, AL, at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Jesuit Catholic Church, Mobile, AL, or CCC Legacy, in care of Brennan Mathena Funeral Home, 800 S.W. 6th Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.