John Julius Irwin III, US Navy Veteran

John Julius Irwin III, US Navy Veteran

John Irwin III was born July 13, 1950 at Fort Hood, Texas and passed away May 15, 2010 at the age of 59. 

John proudly served his country in the United States Navy for four years.  He was, then, a firefighter for the Fort Hood fire department, retiring in 1989.  He and his family relocated to Macon, Georgia.

John was an outdoorsman and enjoyed bull riding, riding his motorcycle with his wife and horseback riding.

Funeral services were held on May 27 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.  Present at the funeral home were Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American Flags to welcome the arriving family and friends.

The Riders acted as pall bearers at the funeral home and at the cemetery.

After the funeral services, the funeral procession was lead by the Riders to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery south of Killeen.

Present at the cemetery were other Riders and 50 American flags which lined the road leading to the committal shelter.  The Riders formed a line of American flags along the front of the shelter as final services were conducted.

The interment services  included a reading, and explanation, of the Twenty Third Psalms.

Military honors were rendered by a US Navy Honor Guard.  Taps was played by the Navy bugler, the flag which draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle, and presented to John’s wife, Brenda, on behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations in appreciation for his service to this Country and a grateful Navy.

John Irwin III was then laid to rest on the western slope of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 26 years, two daughters and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information.