Col. Truman "John" O'Keefe

WardWilson

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Posted by: Ward Wilson
Date: May 18 2017 7:43 PM

Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home Cemetery and Crematory

2414 Hartford Highway

Dothan, Alabama 36305

334-792-4194

www.wardwilson.com

Colonel Truman “John” O’Keefe of Ashford passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2017. He was 95.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at the Ward Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with full military honors.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, May 23, 2017.

Colonel Truman O'Keefe "John"  USAF (Ret.) of Ashford, Al died May 17, 2017 at the age of 95.  John was born October 12, 1921 in Stonefort, Ill. To Arthur and Mollie Davenport O'Keefe. He entered the military July 8, 1942 with a career that spanned more than three decades concentrating primarily on civil engineering and construction. Participated in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He served in the European Theater, Guam, Japan, Okinawa, Greenland, Vietnam, Maxwell, Wright Patterson, and Eglin. He was a pioneer in the Red Horse and Prime Beef organizations.  His last assignment was at Eglin AFB as the Base Civil Engineer.  Following his retirement his career included working  with the Tumpane and Parsons Brinckerhoff Co. He spent many years  in Saudi Arabia and Israel.  He was the project manager of the construction of the commuter rail system under the city of Philadelphia PA.  His last project before retiring was in Yuma AZ. His military decorations and awards which included the Legion of Merit; Air Force Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal One Leaf Cluster; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; WWII Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Two Bronze Service Stars; Republic of Vietnam Service Medal National Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Service Star; Air Force Longevity Service Award with One Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He was a member of MOAA, a  honorary member of the  Lions Club, and a life member of The Society of American Military Engineers. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Reba Lamp O'Keefe; his  Brothers  Freeman (Rose) O'Keefe, Frank (Patricia) O'Keefe, Norman O'Keefe; his sisters; Helen (Bob) Kerr, Mary (Saul) Greene and sister in law Peggy O'Keefe.  He is survived by his children, Patricia O'Keefe, Ashford, Al, Janet D. O'Keefe, Homewood, Al, and  George M. O'Keefe, Pansey, Al. His brothers; Mike O'Keefe, Stonefort, Ill, Charles (Edith) O'Keefe, AK; A brother in law, Lamar(Rebecca) Lamp of Columbia AL; numerous nieces and nephews.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Save a Pet PO Box 9323, Dothan Al 36304, Ed Burkhalter Chapter MOAA, JROTC Military Officers Association of America, PO Box 9432, Dothan AL 36304 We would like to thank our family and friends for their loving care and support.

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