Orville R. "Sonnie" Douthitt, Jr.

Orville R. "Sonnie" Douthitt, Jr., 76, passed away on June 23, 2008. He was born on Feb. 20, 1932, in Ritchey, to Orville Raymond, Sr. and Gladys Irene (Loving) Douthitt. He was a graduate of Wheaton High School, class of 1950. after high school he enlisted in the Air Force. This began a career in aviation that lasted over 40 years. He ended his career when he retired from TWA in 1992. While on leave from the Air Force in Nov. 1952, he married Margaret L. (Petty) Turrell on Nov. 7, 1952. They had four children: Margaret Amy, Jimmy Ray, Bobby Gene and Michael Lee.

Margaret Amy and Michael Lee, along with Sonnie's first grandson, Justin Matthew, preceded him in death.

He, like his father, was a Southern Baptist deacon. He was a member of American Legion Post 163 in Neosho.

survivors include: his wife of 55 and a half years, Peggy; two sons, Jimmy Douthitt, and his wife, Susan, of Kansas City, and Bobby Douthitt, of Meriden, Kan.; seven grandchildren; and sister, Millie Bennington, of Neosho.

Memorial services were held at Nashua Baptist Church on June 27. He was buried with military honors in Jackson County Veteran's Field of Honor at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens, Grain Valley.