Ted DeHart
July 2, 1925 – February 6, 2007
Ted DeHart, 81, of Green Valley, Ariz., died Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Hospital in Tucson.
Ted was born July 2, 1925 in Philippi, W. V. to Clarence Richard and Mary Kathryn (Evans) DeHart.
He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps, having served as a tail gunner with the 95th Bomb Group in England during World War II. After the war he married Jackie Price in Cumberland, Md., on July 6, 1946.
His career was in the civil service from which he retired in 1976 as a real estate officer at Andrews Air Force Base. He and Jackie moved to Alamogordo in 1977. They moved to Omaha, Neb., in 1998 and to Green Valley in 2003.
Ted was a charter member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Alamogordo, and a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley.
His many affiliations included membership in Sacramento Lodge number 24, A.F.&A.M.; Green Valley Lodge No. 71, A.F.&A.M.; the Scottish Rite Consistory in Las Cruces; Ballut Abyad Shrine Temple in Albuquerque; a past president of the Rocket Shrine Club in Alamogordo where he was active with the Clowns and Rocket Riders go-cart units; a past secretary of the Green Valley Shrine Club; the Jesters Court in Albuquerque; a past patron of Alamo Chapter No. 11, Order of the Eastern Star; Alamogordo Chapter of N.A.R.F.E.; a past president of the New Mexico N.A.R.F.E. Federation; the Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge 2016 in Alamogordo, and a former governor; the B.P.O. Elks, Lodge 1897 in Alamogordo; the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Aerie 4101 in Alamogordo; 95th Bomb Group and the American Legion in Green Valley.
Ted will especially be remembered for bringing joy to many children at Christmas, as he was Santa Claus at the White Sands Mall for more than 30 years.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Jackie DeHart, of the family home; a daughter, Cheryl Mollison and her husband John, of Omaha, Neb.; two sons, Tom DeHart and his wife Kathy, and Tim DeHart and his wife Dawn, all of Baltimore; seven grandchildren, Shannon Murley and her husband John, of Cincinnati, Brooke Boren and her husband Jon, of Las Cruces, Christy Eanes and her husband Matt, of Omaha, and Brian, Kelly, Noah and Caleb DeHart, all of Baltimore; one great-granddaughter, Lanie Murley, of Cincinnati; and a brother, Dick DeHart, of Lakeland, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Cynthia McFarland; a granddaughter, Kristen Stotler; and a brother, Jon DeHart.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 10 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church with the Rev. Bruce J. Freeman officiating.
Committal services will follow at Monte Vista Cemetery with Sacramento Lodge No. 24, A.F.&A.M. officiating.
Pallbearers will be John Romine, Jerry Browning, Gary Estep, Paul Stevens, John Secrest, Jr. and Jim Stevenson.
Friends may call Sunday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home.