Jack Stovall

December 3, 1925 - July 15, 2018

Jack Stovall, 92, of Altus, Oklahoma passed away July 15, 2018 in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was born on December 3, 1925, in Granite, Oklahoma to Jesse David and Blanche Stovall. He was the tenth of their twelve children. In 1943, he graduated from Granite High School where he played football and basketball. In January of 1944, he entered active duty with the United States Army and served with the 86th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations and the Philippines. He married Bernadine Jean Price of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, on August 17, 1944. Upon his discharge in 1946, he took up farming north of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. After two years of farming, he decided to go back into the Army and re-enlisted in January of 1948. He served his country for 29 years and was a veteran of three wars: World War Il, Korea, and Viet Nam. LTC Stovall had a very unique military career as he served 17 years as a non-commissioned officer and 12 years as a commissioned officer. As a noncom, he served as the post Sergeant Major for Camp Deseret, Utah, served as the acting Sergeant Major of the Korean Military Advisory Group during the Korean War and he was the first E-9 to serve as the post Sergeant Major of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His last active duty assignment as a non-commissioned officer was to serve as the Sergeant Major for United States Army Alaska — Fort Richardson, Alaska. In 1955, as a Master Sergeant at Fort Sill, LTC Stovall enrolled in the old Correspondence 10 series courses and completed them in 1957. Upon completion of the course, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserve while still serving as a non-commissioned officer on active duty. Upon promotion to Captain in the Army Reserve in 1962, he applied for active duty as a commissioned officer and on May 1 7, 1962, was sworn in as a Captain of the Adjutant General Corps. During his active duty career, he took college classes at night and in 1970 under the Army's "bootstrap" program they sent him to college at OCLA (now USAO) where he graduated with his BS degree in Business Administration. LTC Stovall's last active duty assignment was as the Post Adjutant General at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He is the only person to serve at Fort Sill as both the Post Sergeant Major (1959-1961) and as the Post Adjutant General (1972-1974). He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in May of 1974. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, 6 awards of the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Medal, and the various campaign and service awards from World War Il, Korea, and Viet Nam. After retiring in 1974, he spent 15 years farming and raising quarter horses in Sterling, Oklahoma, and then moved back to Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, where he helped his neighbors in their farm operations. He also was a big fan of girls' basketball and was a big supporter of the programs at Sterling and Granite High Schools. He was a faithful member of The Church of Christ everywhere he lived and served as an deacon in numerous congregations. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse David and Blanche Stovall, by his eight brothers, Jesse Clarke, Bryan, John, Rex, George, Lester, Woodrow, and Donald (Porter), by his three sisters, Norma Gayle, Geraldine and Alta Lee and by his son, Jerry David Stovall Sr. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Bernadine Jean Stovall of 10 Oaks Assisted Living, Lawton, Ok, son, Larry Stovall and wife, Janie Stovall, of Poteau, OK, daughter, LaDonna Armstrong, and husband, Bill Armstrong of Surprise, AZ, son Jack Stovall, Jr and wife, Linda Stovall, of Austin, TX and son, Jesse Stovall, and wife, Lori Stovall, of Altus, OK. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Services for Jack are scheduled for Wednesday, July 18, 2018 1:00 P.M. at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ in Altus with Ken Hamilton, Bill Coffin and Rawn Hart officiating. Interment will follow at Granite City Cemetery Granite, Oklahoma where the U.S. Army Honor Guard will perform graveside rites. Public viewing for Jack will begin, Tuesday, July 17, 2018 1:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. with Family Receiving Friends from 6:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. at Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home located at 1400 West Main, Lone Wolf. 580-846-9018 On-line condolences can be made for Jack by visiting www.peoplescooperativefuneralhome.com