Jackson George Birtchet Jr.

Published in Victoria Advocate on November 3, 2009

EL CAMPO - Jackson "Jack" George Birtchet Jr., age 86, of El Campo died Oct. 31, 2009 in El Campo. He was born July 29, 1923 in Albany, Ore. to the late Jackson George Birtchet Sr. and Alice Meta Graham. The Birtchet family, along with baby brother, Malcolm Graham Birtchet, moved to Addicks, when Jack was young.

In high school he excelled in baseball, basketball and football. After his high school graduation, Jack was signed by the St Louis Cardinals to play in their AAA farm league in Albany, Ga. There he met and married his wife, Hazel Sharman.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jack tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy to join his brother, but he was rejected due to a heart murmur. He was able to enlist in the U.S. Marines in January 1943. He spent the next three years fighting in the Pacific Theatre on the islands of Kwajalein, Saipan-Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
After being honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant at the end of the war, Jack, Hazel and daughter, Alice, returned to Texas where he attended Sam Houston University in Huntsville. While Jack worked on his bachelor's and master's degrees, he played semi-pro baseball and umpired to make ends meet.

Jack began his teaching career in Lovelady where he coached, taught history, and even did maintenance work around the school. He moved to El Campo in the early 1950's and began teaching and coaching for El Campo ISD. He was a member of Texas StateTeachers Assoc. He later became an assistant principal and in 1975 was named superintendent. He retired in 1983.

Jack was an avid hunter and golfer. He especially enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow hunters and golfers. He was a member of First Baptist Church.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and wife.

He is survived by his loving companion, Dorothy Johnson of El Campo; daughters, Alice Walton of Bellville and Jackie Korenek and husband Jim of El Campo. He is also survived by grandsons, Michael McAlexander of Bellville, Patrick Walton and wife Jo Carol of Livingston, and Jackson Korenek of El Campo; great-granddaughters, Ashley and Alisha Walton of Livingston.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church with Rev. Rick DuBroc officiating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park with military honors under the auspices of American Legion Post 251.
Pallbearers will be Michael McAlexander, Patrick Walton, Jack Korenek, Jim Korenek, Mitchell Whitley, Trou Coffman, Kevin George, and Craig George.

Memorials in Jack's name can be made to First Baptist Church.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Wheeler Funeral Home, 979-543-3512.