Browse the obituary of Patrick Joseph May Jr May 24 1929 December 16 2022 residing in Duncanville, Texas for funeral burial details. Write a message of sympathy or a last tribute to perpetue the friendship thread
May 24 1929 December 16 2022
Obituary Please share a memory of Patrick to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. View Tribute Book Patrick Joseph May Jr. passed away on December 16, 2022. He was born in Chicago Illinois on May 24, 1929, to Patrick Joseph May Sr. and Mary Nash May. Pat graduated from St. Mel High School in 1947 before enrolling in St. Mary’s College in Minnesota. During his first year, he chose to enlist in the US Air Force which brought him to Texas where he met the love of his life, Betty Gene Walker. It was in October of 1948, during a weekend leave in Dallas, that he met Betty at the skating rink in Fair Park. The long distance courtship began immediately, and they married on December 26th, 1950, settling in Wichita Falls at Sheppard AFB. Upon discharge, they relocated to Dallas and celebrated over 69 years together before Betty’s passing in 2020. Pat served in the Air Force from 1948-1952, where he specialized as an aircraft engine mechanic and progressed to the rank of Staff Sergeant and Instructor in that field. His trade and passion for aircraft took him to Chance Vought Aircraft Corp.in Dallas, where he had the opportunity to work on some of the most famous fighter planes of that period, including his favorite, the F8 Crusader. With a growing family at home, Pat decided to continue his education and took a position at Texas Instruments while attending night school at Arlington State College. After much sacrifice and hard work, he graduated from ASC in 1967 with a BS degree in Mathematics and spent the remainder of his career in TI’s Central Research Laboratory. It was there where he contributed to the infrared technology development that was deployed on projects such as the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 deep space exploration probes, as well as on the Hubble telescope. Following his retirement, he returned to his roots and volunteered as an aircraft mechanic at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, where he maintained vintage WW2 aircraft and was a member of a restoration team that rebuilt and conducted a cross country flight of a vintage PT-19 Cornell “Rosalie”, that remains on display at the museum. Pat’s passion for learning, exploring, and mechanics was evident in his everyday life. He was an avid reader, enjoying science, history, and technical fiction. He encouraged all to read, think, research, and never quit. He was a great teacher and father. In spite of his successes, Pat was a very humble and kind man with a big heart and a calling to serve. His priorities were his family and his Catholic faith. He sacrificed and served both, always happy and never complaining, always trying to keep true to his deeply held Christian principles. He enjoyed family trips to Chicago, weekend camping, and any other outings that brought family together. He served as an Asst. Scoutmaster in Boy Scouts, served as the equipment manager and president of his dive club, and served as an usher in his parishes for most of his adult life. Pat is preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty, his firstborn child, Patrick III, his parents, sister, and brother. He is survived by his remaining children, Mary Hayes (husband Steve), Teresa Barnard (husband Jody), Tim May (wife Kathy), and Susan May, as well as 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass is at 12:00 PM, Thursday, December 22, 2022 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1111 W. Danieldale Road, Duncanville, Texas 75137. Visitation and rosary will begin at 11:00 AM, just prior to the Mass. Burial will follow at 10:00 AM Friday, December 23, 2022 at DFW National Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patrick, please visit our floral store. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Joseph May Jr May 24 1929 December 16 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Duncanville, state: Texas