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Harry McCool, one of Doolittle’s Raiders, dies at 84
SAN ANTONIO – Harry C. McCool, one of the daring airmen who participated in the Doolittle raid on the Japanese homeland in World War II, died at his home Saturday, Feb. 9, of prostate cancer. He was 84.
On April 18, 1942, McCool was among the B-25 bomber crewmen, led by then-Lt. Col. “Jimmy” Doolittle, who took off from the USS Hornet for the maiden American strike on Tokyo following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor five months earlier.
McCool, then a lieutenant and the navigator of one of the 16 Army Air Force bombers, volunteered for the raid despite the slim odds for survival, said a friend, Chris Mann of Pleasanton, Texas.
McCool’s aircraft had been attacked by Japanese fighters before they could drop their bomb load, and the crew ditched over China after running out of fuel. The Chinese, engaged in a brutal fight against the Japanese occupation, helped the Americans get to safety.
Most of Doolittle’s Raiders survived the daring mission. Although it did little damage, the mission nonetheless was a significant morale boost for the United States, still struggling to recoup from Pearl Harbor and ill-prepared for waging war in Europe and Asia.
After the raid, McCool flew in 13 missions in Asia. During one, he was shot down off the coast of Burma. The British Royal Navy rescued him after he had spent three days on a raft.
His military decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Chinese military Medal of Honor, which he received in 1943.
After the war, McCool continued his military career in the Air Force and became a deputy director for the Strategic Air Command. He retired from active duty in 1966 as a lieutenant colonel.
Pat Elliot of Colorado Springs, Colo., said her father was respected and admired.
“My father became my hero during the years when he took care of my mother, who had developed Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.
McCool was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Laverne McCool. She died in 2001.
Harry McCool, who was born on April 19, 1918, in La Junta, Colo., met his wife at Oklahoma Southwestern State College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in science and mathematics in 1940.
He spent the last years of his career working in Hawaii in the civil service for the Navy. He retired in 1988 and moved to Air Force Village II in San Antonio, where he died.
“He was a gentleman and believed in a code of conduct and code of honor I don’t see anymore,” Elliot said.
In addition to his daughter, McCool is survived by a son, Jim McCool of Richmond, Va.; another daughter, Peg Jensen of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister, Nellie Rose McCool, also of Colorado Springs; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
From El Paso area - 2003
John Breckenridge “J.B.” Jones, 72, a former El Paso alderman, passed away Sunday, Feb. 9, of cardiac arrest.
Jones was born on May 11, 1930, in Montezuma, Kan., and grew up on his parents’ farm. He attended Kansas State University for more than two years, joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and then reenrolled at Kansas State University, graduating with a degree in veterinary medicine in 1960. After graduation, he moved to El Paso, opening his practice, Jones Veterinary Clinic. In the 1970s, he helped found El Paso’s Animal Emergency Center, the first center of its kind in the state.
In 1975, during the term of Mayor Don Henderson, he was elected alderman – a position that is now called city representative – in charge of the police and fire departments and the department of public health. Noting the need for lifesaving measures during ambulance transportation of patients, he spearheaded the creation of an emergency medical system, providing trained medics to provide lifesaving care. El Paso’s Emergency Medical Services began operating in 1979. He retired from his veterinary practice in 1993.
Jones is survived by his wife, Delaine Jones; and his children, Bill Jones, Cindy Hutchins and Sandy Pettit; and by his sister, JoAnne Bare. Interment took place at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
From El Paso area - 2003
Lawrence “Larry” A. Melcher, 64, passed away Saturday, Feb. 8. A long-time resident of El Paso, he retired as a Master Sgt. after 22 years’ service with the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam and was with the CID for 17 years and worked with NCH Promotional Services for 15 years.
Melcher was preceded in death by his son, Joachin “Larry” Melcher. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Beate Melcher; his children, Michael and his wife, Tosha Melcher, of Midland and Sonja and her husband, Timothy Wilson, of El Paso; his grandchildren: Megan A. Melcher, Karly P., Cody J. and Keely B. Hughes; three brothers and two sisters; sisters-in-law, Ruth York of El Paso and Hildegard Schneider of Germany. Interment took place in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
From El Paso area - 2003
Ramon C. Juarez, 92, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 12. A life-long resident of El Paso, he served on the anti-aircraft carrier, Battalion, in Alaska during WWII. He retired from ASARCO after 30 years of service.
Mr. Juarez was preceded in death by two brothers. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Emma M. Juarez; children, Rosa Miramontes, Ramon Juarez Jr., Oscar M. Juarez, Gracie J. Morales, Raul M. Juarez, Sylvia J. Guzman, Ruben M. Juarez and Sandie J. Reyes; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two brothers and one sister. Interment took place at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
From El Paso area - 2003
Jessie C. Fryer, 84, passed away Sunday, Feb. 9, in Albuquerque, N.M. She was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church, and taught for many years at Dowell Elementary School. She was a member of Civitan International.
Mrs. Fryer was preceded in death by her husband, Henry A. Fryer, and her parents, Gus and Jessie Schuh, and her brother, Donald. She is survived by her daughters, Carol A. White and her husband, Doug White, Janet L. Jones and her husband, Bart Jones, and Anita M. Kellaway and her husband, Billy Kellaway; by her grandchildren: Daniel White, Mark White and his wife Heather White, Ginger White, Naomi Pickett and her husband Dan Pickett, Julie Kellaway and her husband Dennis Goeltl, Andrew Kellaway and his wife Jolinda Kellaway, and Catherine Kellaway; great-grandchildren: Taylor Marie Kellaway Goeltl, Nicki Kellaway an Marissa Kellaway. Interment took place at Zion Lutheran Church. Memorial contributions can be made to the Zion Lutheran Church Education Program, 2800 Pershing Drive, El Paso, Texas.
From El Paso area - 2003
Martha Kozloske Norton, 82, passed away Saturday, Feb. 8. She was a lifelong resident of El Paso and a graduate of Texas Western College of Mines. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nellie May Kozloske, and by her husband, William E. Norton. She is survived by her step-sister, Micki Chowing of El Paso; cousins Nieomi Alex of Kerrville, Inez Haraway of San Antonio, David Shaw of Spring, Texas, and cousin of William Norton, Aline Kindle of Rowlett, Texas. Interment took place in Evergreen East Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.
From El Paso area - 2003
Bernice M. Elder, 89, of Sierra Blanca, Texas, passed away Sunday, Feb. 16. Born in Sierra Blanca on June 21, 1913, she became a teacher and served as county and district clerk of Hudspeth County for 24 years, retiring in 1978.
She was active in the Hudspeth County Historical Society and was instrumental in saving the Sierra Blanca Depot and having it converted into a museum. Ms. Elder also wrote a weekly column in the Hudspeth County Herald.
She was preceded in death by her parents E.G. McAdoo and Ida Mae Beeman McAdoo, who were pioneer ranchers in Hudspeth County; her sister Doris M. Lewis; and her brother, Gordon McAdoo Jr. She is survived by her sister, Vivian Dees of Allamore, Texas; son John C. Elder and his wife JoAnn Benner Elder of Sierra Blanca; daughter Linda Elder King and her husband Charlie King; son Gary C. Elder and his wife Sally Harper Elder of Van Horn, Texas; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Hudspeth County Historical Society, P.O. Box 190, Sierra Blanca, Texas 79851.
From El Paso area - 2003
Dolores “Maxine” Lambert, 86, died Sunday, Feb. 16. Born in Dickens, Texas, on May 14, 1916, she was a resident of El Paso since 1941. She taught at Bowie High School for more than 40 years before retiring in 1982 as a girls’ physical education teacher and coach.
She was a member of many organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma, Gideon Auxiliary, the UTEP alumni and NEA, and served as president of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the IBBI auxiliary. She wsas a member of Immanuel Baptist Church of El Paso, and served as a Sunday school teacher there. Ms. Lambert also logged more than 4,000 hours as a volunteer at Columbia Healthcare Hospital.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, James “Sam” Lambert; two sons: David Lambert and his wife Bonnie, and Ron Lambert and his wife Sherry.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to any church or charity.
From El Paso area - 2003
Otis F. Wollenberg, 81, died Friday, Feb. 14. Born March 30, 1922, in Pendleton, N.Y., to Bernard A. and Edna Kroening Wollenberg, he graduated from North Tonawanda high school in 1940. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 in the European theater of operations with the 32nd Machine Records Unit.
On June 15, 1946, he married Evelyn A. Pagels, who passed away in December 1994.
In 1947, Mr. Wollenberg went to work for Sylvania in Buffalo, N.Y., transferring to El Paso in 1972. After 36 years as a specification writer for the company, which is now known as Verizon, he retired in 1983.
While living in North Tonawanda, N.Y., he was a chaplain with the Volunteer Rescue Fire Co. No. 5, an association he cherished. In El Paso, he was a devoted church worker at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
He is survived by three nieces, one nephew and many friends. Interment took place at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Zion Lutheran Church, the Rescue Mission of El Paso or the American Red Cross Services.
From El Paso area - 2003
Mary Magruder Huffman dead at 71
Mary Magruder Huffman passed away Thursday, Feb. 13.
Born to Edward Guyler and Georgia Hazeltine Logan Magruder, she was raised in El Paso, attending Dudley Grade School and El Paso High School. She married Bruce Huffman on June 12, 1953, in Los Angeles, residing in Hollywood. In 1963, they moved to McMinnville, Ore., and then to Redlands, Calif., where she worked in the art department and took classes at the University of Redlands.
In 1973, she moved to Newberg, where she worked at George Fox College and and resumed her real estate career. In 1981, she moved to Valley Forge, Penn., where she and her husband conducted research on youth and evangelism for the National Ministry of the American Baptist Ministries. In 1983, she moved to Saginaw, Mich., where she and her husband were associate pastors of a large downtown First Baptist Church.
In 1986, she moved to Salem, where she served as the Director of Children’s Pre-School and Daycare at Cavalry Baptist Church. In 1990, she moved back to McMinnville, where she worked for the housing authority as the rehabilitation manager, and in the family self-sufficiency program.
After her retirement in 1997, she worked part-time for Ish Duckett Realty. She was a member of the McMinnville Covenant Church, and a Soroptomist. Her hobbies included gardening, oil painting, dancing, writing and working with children.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce Huffman, of McMinnville, Ore.; her daughters, Sarah Jo Davis of Oregon City, Ore., and Laura E. Erickson of Portland, Ore.; her sons, James R. Huffman of Tillamook, Ore., and Ted S. Huffman of San Diego, Calif.; her brother, John B. Magruder of El Paso; and by eight grandchildren and 2 two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Children’s Program at McMinnville Covenant Church, or to Hospice, in care of Macy & Son Funeral Directors, 135 North Evans, McMinnville, Ore. 97128-4682.
From El Paso area - 2003
