Theodore Morgan Jr.

MORGAN, Theodore Lawton, Jr., 84, of Land O' Lakes, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2002. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Theodore Lawton, Sr. and Lottie Florence; sisters, Estelle Nonemacherand Florence Morgan. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Denson Morgan; a son, David Lewis Morgan and his wife, Cheri Robert Morgan; grandsons, Jason Jolly and Cody Lawton Morgan; a daughter, Elizabeth Morgan Hagman; granddaughter, Karen Ann Hagman; and grandson, Jeff Michael Hagman. He was born and raised in Rome, Ga., enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and served in three wars: World War II, the KoreanConflict, and Vietnam. In 1941 he joined Motor Torpedo Squadron 3, commanded by Lt. John Bulkeley of "They Were Expendable." He was assigned to the 31 boat, under the command of Lt. Edward G. DeLong. In 1942 Commander Morgan joined the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines on Corregidor, where he was taken prisoner. He was held by the Japanese in the Philippine Islands for six months, then transported to Japan where he remained a prisoner of war until the wars' end. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance of duty on the harbor defenses in Corregidor. Among his many duty assignments with the U.S. Navy, he served as commanding officer of the destroyer USS Stoddard, based in Coronado, California, and completed his 32 year career as executive officer of the Naval Ammunition Depot at Bangor, Washington, when he retired in 1968 to Land O' Lakes. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 30, from 9-11:00 a.m. at the chapel of Loyless Funeral Home, 5310 Land O' Lakes Blvd., in Land O' Lakes. Interment will follow at the Florida National Cemetery, in Bushnell, at 2:00 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or donations can be made to Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Center in Dade City, 37300 Royal Oak Lane, 33525. LOYLESS FUNERAL HOME (813) 996-6610