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Cpl
JIMMY EARL FITZPATRICK
Fire Direction Center (FDC), "C"
Battery
5Nov46 - 8Sep17
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Jimmy
Earl Fitzpatrick
November
5, 1946 – September 8,
2017
It
is with great sadness the family of Jimmy Earl Fitzpatrick share news of his
passing on Friday, September 8th, 2017 at the age of 70. Jim was born the only
child of Glover and Ruby Fitzpatrick who have proceeded him on his journey home
to his heavenly Father. Jimmy was the loving husband of Marilyn Fitzpatrick. His
loving legacy lives on in his son Jeffrey Fitzpatrick and wife Mary Jane,
daughter Megan Martin and husband Dan, from a previous marriage to Nora K. (Marlar)
Fitzpatrick, step-daughter Tracie Seimon and husband Anton, step-son Shaun
Piegdon and wife Jennifer. His grandchildren are Riley Cole, Brianna Martin,
Jaydon Piegdon, and Isabeau Fitzpatrick, culminating through to his many Aunts,
Uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Known by his grandchildren as
“Papa” and his friends as “Mr. Jimmy” or “Jimbo”.
Jimmy
would be the first to admit that he lived, loved, laughed and occasionally come
across like a “bull in a china cabinet when he should have tip-toed through
the tulips”.
In
Jimmy’s life, he faced all his challenges head on and without fear and with
strength. As a child, he overcame polio to compete in high school football,
wrestling, track and cross country at Midwest City High school, class of 1965.
He served his country with honor when he enlisted and served in the United
States Army during the Vietnam war. After his service, he started his family and
then he became involved in outboard boat racing. As the president of Oklahoma
Boat Racing Association, he was able to co-ordinate a racing event in El Dorado,
Kansas in conjunction with the Unlimited Hydroplane Racing group. Then as his
children grew, he left boat racing to be the soccer coach for his son and
daughter as well as a soccer referee. Jim always enjoyed hunting and shooting
and was blessed with the opportunity to go to Africa twice to hunt, and was a
member of the Safari Club International. Jimmy was a long-time member of the OKC
Gun Club and served as president. He worked at Tinker Air Force Base until his
retirement, then worked at Outdoor Outfitters until their merger with H&H
gun range. Jim loved the outdoors and spending time hunting and fishing with his
wife Marilyn, and looked forward to opportunities when he could share these with
his grandchildren.
Jimmy
came to re-engage his faith and find a new love in Christ through his attendance
at Life Church, Midwest City. Jimmy’s loving heart, willingness to speak his
mind, steadfast loyalty to friends and family, strength to face any challenge
head on is going to be deeply missed by his family and friends that carry on his
spirit and legacy.
TRIBUTE
FROM DAVE PRICE
Jimmy
lived in Oklahoma. He left Vietnam
in early 1968, a few weeks after the Tet Offensive after serving out his year. He
was in FDC and spent most of his tour he in
“C” Battery. He came in to Battalion FDC and worked with me with
less than 2 months left on his tour.
I
learned a lot from Jimmy. And he and I shared a small bunker
with another guy while we were being mortared during Tet while we were at LZ
Baldy south of Hoi An.
Sorry
I didn’t find him and reach out to him while he was with us. I’m
attaching a couple of photos I took of him when we worked together shortly
before he rotated home.
Dave
Price
BN
FDC, 1967 - 1968