Wright Jacob Sherrard
April 4, 1917 ~ August 16, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Brigadier General Wright Jacob Sherrard, USAF retired, known as Jake to his friends and family, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Saturday, August 16, 2008 in Asheville, NC. Jake was born in Bienville, Louisiana on April 4, 1917. He was one of six children (4 boys and 2 girls) of Emma Simpson Sherrard and Edwin Sherrard.
In 1939 during his senior year he left Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana to join the Army Air Corps flight training program in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated a 2nd lieutenant with the class of 40E and was assigned to fly troop transport and cargo to Central America and Labrador. In WWII he flew allied paratroopers in the North African and Sicilian campaigns where he was shot down over the Mediterranean. Returning from Europe in 1944 he became the base commander of Stout AFB in Indianapolis, Indiana at the tender young age of 26. Later at Fort Benning, Georgia he earned his paratrooper wings. In 1953 he received his degree in Russian studies from Syracuse University before being assigned to the American Embassy in Moscow, Russia as the Air Attaché. Soon after returning from Russia he attended and graduated from the prestigious National War College in Washington, DC. He proudly served his country for a total of 35 years, finally retiring in February 1973 from MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. Among his many medals, he earned the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Medal.
In 1973 he and his wife moved to Tallahassee, Florida where they spent more than 30 happy years. After a full military career he went back to work for the state of Florida, first as the assistant to the Director of the Florida Department of Energy, then for a short while as the Director, before illness forced his second retirement in 1976.
He married Dagmar Petersen of Atlanta, Georgia in 1946. They had three daughters: Deborah Ringstrom of Saugerties, NY, Donna Leonard of Asheville, NC and Kista Bryant of Lenoir, NC who predeceased her father in 2003. In addition to being survived by his wife and two daughters, he is also survived by a grandson Jake Ringstrom of Denver, CO, three son in-laws (Melvin Ringstrom, Pete Leonard and Travis Bryant) and two brothers (Col. & Mrs. James Sherrard of Austin, Texas and Mr. & Mrs. Ray Sherrard of Jackson, Mississippi).
The family would like to thank all of the staff at Deerfield Retirement Center for their thoughtfulness, support and kind care of Jake during his last few years.
There will be a memorial service at the Episcopal chapel at Deerfield Retirement Center on Hendersonville Road at 2:00 PM on Thursday, August 21 prior to interment at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC at a later date. In lieu of flowers, you may make remembrances to the Deerfield Chapel Fund or Samaritan's Purse.
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Gen. Sherrard sounds like one helluva guy. Wish I could have made his aquaintance while in Asheville. Not many of those old warhorses left. I am sorry for your loss. All my best regards.
Mark Dalusky