Joseph Givens

Sorrells Funeral Home of Enterprise

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Posted by: Sorrells Funeral Home
[email protected]
334-347-9598
Date: Mar 30 2013 3:26 PM

Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory

4550 Boll Weevil Circle

Enterprise, Alabama 36330

(334) 347-9598

Date: March 30, 2013  

Obituary:  Joseph Ewalt Givens

 

           

            USMCR(R) Colonel Joseph Ewalt Givens of Enterprise, Alabama passed away on Friday, March 29, 2013 in Birmingham, Al.   He was 91.

            Graveside funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from the Meadowlawn Cemetery in Enterprise, Al with Rev. Lee Jones officiating.  The family will receive friends at Sorrells Funeral Home in Enterprise, Al on Wednesday from 9 until 10:30 am.

            Mr. Givens was born October 31, 1921 in Lincoln County Kentucky to the late George Ewalt and Mary Crews Givens.  Col. Givens graduated Stanford High School in Kentucky in 1940.  In 1942 he enlisted as a United States Naval Aviation cadet.  Upon completion of his training, he was accepted into the United States Marine Corp as a fighter pilot.  Col. Givens saw action in the Pacific Theater of WWII where he flew with the Death Rattlers squadron in Okinawa and in 1951 in the Korean War where he flew with the Black Sheep fighter pilots squadron.  He was shot down 75 miles into enemy territory and was rescued from the Sea of Japan by helicopter and delivered to the battleship New Jersey.  He remained in the Marine Corp Reserves until 1966.  Colonel Givens received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Ribbon, and the National Defense Medal.

   Upon moving to Enterprise in 1955 he attended St. Luke United Methodist Church and remained there for 58 years.  From 1955-1977 Colonel Givens was a civilian test pilot for the Army Aviation Test Board at Fort Rucker, Alabama where he tested many helicopters (Cheyenne, Chinook, Sky Crane and the Black Hawk) and multiple weapon systems for the Vietnam era.   He considered one of his greatest professional accomplishments to be one of the designers of the in-flight refueling system and one of the pilots for the first  coast-to-coast, non-stop helicopter  flight  accomplished by using this in-flight refueling system.  After flying nonstop 2,610 miles for 31 hours the helicopter was landed on the doorstep of the Pentagon.  This accomplishment established helicopter endurance history. He is listed in Who's Who of American Aviation.

  In addition to his parents, a sister Gayle Givens of Lexington, KY preceeded him in death.

 Colonel Givens  is survived by his wife of 60 years, Paula Givens,  brother Jack Givens (Marguerite) of Houston, Texas,  three children Cheryl Field (Kenneth) of Colorado Springs, Bromleigh Naftel (David) and Paul Givens (Tina) both of Birmingham, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements. To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com.

 

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