1923
Paul
2011
Paul E. Fagg
April 15, 1923 — January 12, 2011
Harlingen, TX:
Paul E. "Pete" Fagg died at home on January 12, 2011 in Harlingen, Texas at the age of 87. He was born on April 23, 1923 in Blue Ridge, Texas, northeast of Dallas, to Martin Luther and Goldie McCoy Fagg. He was high school valedictorian in Blue Ridge.
He attended North Texas Agricultural College (now the University of Texas at Arlington) before enlisting in the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet in
January, 1942. He was stationed at Moore Field, near Mission, Texas as a pilot instructor. While there he met his future wife, Helen Draper. They were married on Columbus Day, 1943 and moved to Columbus, OH where he was called for B-17 Bomber training.
He was sent overseas in April 1944 to pilot B-17 Bombers, completing 35 missions, including D-Day, from a base in England over most of Europe during World War II. As a First Lieutenant he commanded the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress which was shot down over France, holding the burning plane in the air long enough for his crew and himself to bail out over the Allied beach head just before it blew up. He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and an Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters during his service overseas.
After the war, Pete and Helen settled in Edinburg, Texas where they began farming -- citrus and vegetables in the Rio Grande Valley during the school year, and wheat in the Texas Panhandle during the summers. At the same time, they completed their degrees at Pan American University and began teaching careers. He taught high school history and English for a total of eight years in Edinburg and in Perryton, Texas, where they moved in 1965 to be near their major wheatland holdings. The Faggs remained in the Panhandle until Pete retired from farming in 1997, when they moved to Palm Valley (Harlingen).
Pete was known for his humor, for his remarkable ability to grow things, and for devotion to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Helen; three children, Linda Ellsworth of San Antonio, Paul Draper (Betsy) of Dunedin, Florida; and Sharon Wyse (David Satz) of New York City; one sister, Pat McWhorter of Eugene, Oregon, one brother, Dow Foxx of Hope Hull, Alabama; and three grandchildren, Glen Sanford (Carolyn Dunbar), Alex Ellsworth, and Evan Draper. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred Richardson, and his brother, George Fagg.
The family extends gratitude to the team of devoted caregivers who made it possible for Mr. Fagg to receive excellent and loving care at home: Priscilla Silva, Victoria Aparicio, Charo Bustamante, Blanca Salomon, Ninfa Navarro, Monica Bustamante, Ana Campos, and the dedicated nurse, Carlos Rainha.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 15th at the First United Methodist Church, 321 East Harrison Street, Harlingen. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the First United Methodist Church in Harlingen may be made in Mr. Fagg's memory.
Paul E. "Pete" Fagg died at home on January 12, 2011 in Harlingen, Texas at the age of 87. He was born on April 23, 1923 in Blue Ridge, Texas, northeast of Dallas, to Martin Luther and Goldie McCoy Fagg. He was high school valedictorian in Blue Ridge.
He attended North Texas Agricultural College (now the University of Texas at Arlington) before enlisting in the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet in
January, 1942. He was stationed at Moore Field, near Mission, Texas as a pilot instructor. While there he met his future wife, Helen Draper. They were married on Columbus Day, 1943 and moved to Columbus, OH where he was called for B-17 Bomber training.
He was sent overseas in April 1944 to pilot B-17 Bombers, completing 35 missions, including D-Day, from a base in England over most of Europe during World War II. As a First Lieutenant he commanded the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress which was shot down over France, holding the burning plane in the air long enough for his crew and himself to bail out over the Allied beach head just before it blew up. He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and an Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters during his service overseas.
After the war, Pete and Helen settled in Edinburg, Texas where they began farming -- citrus and vegetables in the Rio Grande Valley during the school year, and wheat in the Texas Panhandle during the summers. At the same time, they completed their degrees at Pan American University and began teaching careers. He taught high school history and English for a total of eight years in Edinburg and in Perryton, Texas, where they moved in 1965 to be near their major wheatland holdings. The Faggs remained in the Panhandle until Pete retired from farming in 1997, when they moved to Palm Valley (Harlingen).
Pete was known for his humor, for his remarkable ability to grow things, and for devotion to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Helen; three children, Linda Ellsworth of San Antonio, Paul Draper (Betsy) of Dunedin, Florida; and Sharon Wyse (David Satz) of New York City; one sister, Pat McWhorter of Eugene, Oregon, one brother, Dow Foxx of Hope Hull, Alabama; and three grandchildren, Glen Sanford (Carolyn Dunbar), Alex Ellsworth, and Evan Draper. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred Richardson, and his brother, George Fagg.
The family extends gratitude to the team of devoted caregivers who made it possible for Mr. Fagg to receive excellent and loving care at home: Priscilla Silva, Victoria Aparicio, Charo Bustamante, Blanca Salomon, Ninfa Navarro, Monica Bustamante, Ana Campos, and the dedicated nurse, Carlos Rainha.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 15th at the First United Methodist Church, 321 East Harrison Street, Harlingen. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the First United Methodist Church in Harlingen may be made in Mr. Fagg's memory.
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