IRA J. STUART

IRA J. STUART, 98, of Friendswood, Texas, died on Dec 14, 2009 in Webster, Texas. He was born on Oct 30, 1911 in Pyote, Texas, the second of James A. and Mary Ella Stuart's ten children. As an adventurous 16-yr old, he lied about his age, joined the National Guard and rode across New Mexico practicing saber cavalry charges. Ira graduated from high school in Artesia, New Mexico and married the love of his youth, Willie Dinwiddie. He served with pride in WW II as an artillery officer in the Italian campaign. After WWII, Ira moved to El Paso, Texas, where he graduated from Texas Western College and married the love of his life, Jeanne Jackson. Ira and Jeanne made El Paso their home for the next 47 years. Ira worked for Standard Oil (now Chevron) for 30 years, followed by a second career in real estate with Keller Williams. In 1999, he moved to Friendswood, Texas and made new friends at Village on the Park. Ira was devoted to his family and a member of Grandview Baptist Church for 40 yrs. He loved the UTEP Miners and all things related to sports, playing golf well into his eighties. He was a skilled and fiercely competitive bridge player, and an ardent student of history. He raised three strong willed and independent daughters, all of whom loved him dearly.He was preceded in death by Jeanne, his wife of 62 years; his daughter, Phyllis Lemmon; and his siblings, Wilbur, D.C., Jamie, John A. Stuart and Irene Small.He is survived by siblings, Averille Dew, Drotha Bruno, Garland and Robert Stuart; daughters, JoAnn Wimberly and husband, Jim and Janelle Stokes and husband, Ronald; grandchildren, Mike Zufelt, Patsy Newhouse, Terri Langner, Randy Lemmon, and Reid and Connor Stokes; great-grandchildren, Jenny and Chris Zufelt; and great-great granddaughter, Katie Zufelt.Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at the Jeter Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 311 N. Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX, (281) 992-7200.A graveside service with military honors will be held at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Road, El Paso, TX, at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, December 18, 2009 under the care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ira Stuart's name to the Fisher House Foundation, Inc, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168, or online at http://www.fisherhouse.org/contribute/onlineGiving. This foundation supports our military families in need.Condolences can be sent to the Stuart Family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.