Gone West: Jack Winthrop, Jr.

John Cooper “Jack” Winthrop, Jr., age 91, of Allen, Texas, passed away unexpectedly December 3, 2011, in McKinney, Texas. Jack was born August 3, 1920, in DuQuoin, Illinois, to John Cooper and Laura Lucy (Webb) Winthrop, Sr. He learned to fly at age 17. Jack attended Southern Illinois University. He and Pauline Hunter were married in 1943 and remained married for fifty-seven years until her death in 2000. They raised four daughters. Jack proudly served in the United States Air Force during World War II and during the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict. After leaving the Air Force, Jack was a pilot for Braniff International for thirty-four years. He retired from Braniff on August 3, 1980. Jack was a member of the BISE Club, the Quiet Birdmen, the Antique Aircraft Association, the American WACO Club, and a lifetime member of EAA. Jack had a flight instructor’s rating until he was ninety. He had three daughters who had pilot’s licenses and he taught three grandsons to fly.

  - Dick Ramsey

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