Johnnie Lee Sullivan
Johnnie Lee Sullivan, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on October 5, 1943, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, in Arlington, Texas.
He is preceded in death by his father, Lee Anders Sullivan, mother, Ruth Laverne Hamilton and sister, Sheila Ruth Hamilton.
Johnnie graduated from High School in Hobart Oklahoma in 1962, thereafter joining the United States Army. He served 28 years in the active Army and Army Reserves retiring in 1991 as a Major in Military Intelligence. He contributed greatly to the US victory in the Iraqi Desert Storm campaign through enemy intelligence analysis/reports. Johnnie earned numerous awards for achievement and service, serving in Vietnam, Germany, Korea and England. In Vietnam he received the Purple Heart for wounds received when his army helicopter, on which he was a door gunner, was shot down and crashed into the South China Sea. Four crewmen were killed in the crash. He received five awards of the Air Medal for more than 250 combat fight missions.
Johnnie also served with the Dallas Police Department for 30 years retiring in 1999.
Johnnie earned a BS and a Master’s Degree from Abilene Christian University. He was a Past Worshipful Master of the Desoto Masonic Lodge and participated in the Scottish Rite and Shiners.
Johnnie is survived by his son, Patrick Jon Sullivan and wife, Joelle; daughter Katherine Heather Bechtel-Hall and husband, Mackenzie; grandsons: Brandon Sullivan, Robert Sullivan and Hollister Bechtel-Hall; granddaughters: Elli, Piper and Willow; sisters: Kanda Barnes and Tonya Dorsey.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 beginning at 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Ennis.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 2 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Ennis,
Interment will be held on Monday, October 14, 2019 at 10 a.m. in the DFW National Cemetery under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.
