Jack Carlyle Beddingfield, 93, of Argyle, Texas passed away on June 14, 2018, in a skilled nursing facility, surrounded by his family.

Jack was born January 26, 1925, in a farm house in Anderson County, Texas to Jesse and Artie Beddingfield. Jack is preceded in death by his parents and six siblings. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Cleo, his brother Harold, son and daughter in law, Mark and Anne, daughter Brenda, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Covington High School, Jack was drafted into the Army and served in the infantry as a light machine gunner during World War II. He served in four campaigns including Battle of North France, Normandy, Rhineland and the Battle of the Bulge, in which he received four battle stars. During the Battle of the Bulge, a bullet ricocheted off of the ice and went into his back causing him to be temporarily paralyzed.  After World War II ended, Jack re-enlisted in the Air Corps, which later became the Air Force. During his military career, he received many awards and commendations including the highest honor available from the French: the Chevalier French Order of the Legion of Honor Medal. He was crew chief on the B36 and later the B52. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant, E9. After a few years working for Bell Helicopter, he served in the U.S. Customs Service for 22 years.

He was ordained as a deacon in 1962, in the Southern Baptist church and continued to serve in the church throughout his life by teaching Sunday school, serving as treasurer, and Brotherhood Director. He also served with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team. He served as President of the 7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association. He served as finance officer for the Military Order of the Purple Heart and was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge.

If you knew Jack you liked him, if you knew him well you loved him. He was soft spoken, humorous, kind, intelligent, slow to anger, protective, compassionate, and generous. He loved God, his country, his family, the Southern Baptist church and he served them all well.

He was a man among men, a leader among leaders. Jack was someone to be admired, loved, and imitated.