Jerome Potter

1932 - 2015

Jerome Potter, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, died Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015. Service: Mass of Christian Burial, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew Catholic Church. Interment: 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Lane B, with full military honors. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole. Memorials: The Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, 909 W. Shaw St., Fort Worth, Texas 76110. Jerry was born April 2, 1932, in Pittsfield, Mass., son of the late Gerald and Mary Peppin Potter. After graduating from Hoosic Valley High School in Schaghticoke, N.Y., he enlisted in the Air Force, went to San Antonio for training, and served a four-year tour in Germany. When he returned from Germany, he attended Officer Candidate School and pinned on the gold bars of a second lieutenant on June 15, 1956. The next day he married Mary Jo, the "most wonderful girl in Texas." After OCS, Jerry completed Navigator, and then Electronic Warfare Officer schools, was assigned as a "Crew Dog" to a B-52 Bomb Wing, and moved to Sheppard AFB. In 1961, he transferred to B-58 Hustler training and assignment with the 43rd Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB. Jerry completed a degree in political science from Arkansas Technical College and became an instructor and Standardization Board Select Crewmember. He served in Vietnam as a staff electronic warfare officer and was appointed director of 7th Air Force Electronic Warfare operations for all tactical air missions in Vietnam. In 1972, Jerry returned, now a lieutenant colonel, and was assigned to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Md. Jerry completed his 31-year Air Force career with the NSA, retiring in 1981. During his nine years there, he was involved with many urgent national intelligence actions. In 1977 he was assigned to the NSA's European Headquarters. With promotion to colonel, Jerry assumed the position of chief of staff for that organization, and retired the following year. In retirement, Jerry found ways to volunteer. An active member of St. Andrew Catholic Church, he enjoyed ushering for the 12:30 p.m. Mass. He once testified before a U.S. Senate Committee in Washington, D.C., debating elder laws. As a volunteer with the Tarrant County Probate Court, he visited with wards of the court to assure their well-being. Jerry continued this work until August 2015. The most important things in his life were his God, his country and his family. He served all of them with honor. Jerry often said, "I just wish I could do it all over again. I was truly blessed by my Creator with a wonderful, eventful life with Mary Jo and the children. Those gifts from God made it all worthwhile as a father, no matter life's problems." Jerry is on his way to the wild blue yonder. He will enjoy that kick when those four J-79 "Hustler" afterburners go max AB. Then he'll ride the B-58 through acceleration to Mach 2, climb to 50,000 feet, level off, observe the sanctity of space, put out his hand, and touch the face of God. Survivors: His wife of 59 years, Mary Jo; children, Teresa M. Schoch and husband, Dennis, Mary E. Ostman, David J. Potter, William G. Potter and wife, Shelly; eight grandchildren; siblings, Donald Potter and wife, Betty, Everett Potter and wife, Mary Jane, and Marlene McGrath.