James Donald Depue

James Donald DePue was born July 9, 1945 in Oklahoma City, OK to Sadie DeShazo and James Warren DePue. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1963 and immediately enlisted for six years in the United States Navy, where he discovered his passion for electrical engineering.

Following his military service, he attended and graduated from Central State College in Edmond, OK being the first in many generations of his family to attend college. During and following his college education, Jim worked several years at the Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, where he honed his electrical engineering skills.

Ultimately his career brought him to Palestine, Texas in 1982, where he was employed for 25 years by the National Scientific Balloon Facility, a contract agency for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He supported scientists from around the world in their research, allowing him to travel to many places such as Antarctica, Australia, South America, Sweden, the Pacific Rim and North America.

He retired in 2008 and spent his remaining time with the love of his life, Pamela whom he married July 17, 1981. Jim was an avid sports fan of the University of Oklahoma and was a classic car enthusiast. Always handy around the house, Jim repaired and maintained everything from cars to home appliances.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Warren DePue, his mother, Sadie Yones and step-father, W.D. Yones, sisters Joyce Perry and Sandra Dougherty, niece Dani Attaway and nephew Kevin Perry.

Jim is survived by his wife Pamela DePue, his beloved dog, Joe and step-children Lynn Williams, Mark Montgomery and Jennie Morton and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren whom he adored, his nieces Dee Ann Housman, Gina LeJeune and Jennifer Barber and nephews Mark Perry and Matthew Dougherty.

In honor of Jim's memory, the family has asked that donations be made to the Salvation Army.