Douglas Wilson Stockton, Colonel, USAF (Retired)

Douglas Wilson Stockton, Colonel, United States Air Force (Retired) and member of West Point's Long Gray Line Class of 1957, passed away peacefully at his home on October 19, 2021, following a long illness.

He was born in 1935, in Edinburg, Texas. After graduating from high school in Harlingen, Texas, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. He graduated from West Point in 1957 with a commission in the United States Air Force and completed USAF pilot training in 1958. In 1959, he married Ruby Lee Robertson of Taylorsville.

Highlights of his career include assignments as an instructor pilot, an advisor to the Royal Thai Air Force in Udorn, Thailand, and as officer in charge of powered flight programs at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. He also attended Air Command and Staff College as well as Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. While at Command and Staff College, he received an MBA degree from Auburn University.

During the Vietnam War, he flew 394 combat missions in support of U.S. Army and RVN ground forces. His decorations include the Legion of Merit (2), the Distinguished Flying Cross (4), the Air Medal (22), the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Later assignments included staff duties at Pacific Air Forces Headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; two consecutive squadron commander assignments at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina; logistics staff duty at Tinker Air Logistics Center, Oklahoma, and as Air Force ROTC Commander at Memphis State University.

After he retired from the Air Force in 1985, he taught high school math in Taylorsville for a time and also tutored math. His passion was gardening, but he also enjoyed stained glass construction, woodworking, and tinkering with computers.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Douglas Stockton.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby Lee, of Taylorsville and daughter, Viki Stockton Smith, of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his brother, William Stockton; daughter-in-law, Joyce Stockton; and two grandchildren, Travis Stockton and Katie Stockton, all of Texas; as well as many nieces and nephews around the country. His wife's family was also very special to him.

We honor him with this poem.

High Flight

John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor ever eagle flew-

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Taylorsville is in charge of arrangements. (601) 785-6564

Online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com