Dr. James Willis Booth, Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. James Willis Booth, Jr. went into the Lord's Everlasting Arms on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 with his loving wife of 61 years at his side. He was born June 21, 1927 in Longview, Texas to James Willis Booth and Gladys Laressa Adams Booth who were members of pioneer families of Gregg County.
Dr. Booth served his country as a Navy pilot in World War II. After completing his Naval duties, he attended the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, receiving a BBA in 1948. In 1955, he graduated from Baylor University Dental College in Dallas. Later, he was one the first graduates of the Baylor School of Orthodontics in 1965. Dr. Booth continued his studies performing post-graduate training at the University of Madrid, Spain, the University of Brussels Dental School, Brussels, Belgium and the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. He maintained his Orthodontic practice in Longview until his retirement in 1997.
In 1948 he married his high school sweetheart Kathryn Kitty Adamson. During their marriage they had four children, Cynthia Elizabeth, James Willis, Susan Ann and William Morris. He was a dedicated husband and father. His sister-in-law always referred to him as "the family man", as he always remembered
his nieces' and nephews' birthdays.
Dr. Booth flew airplanes, enjoyed stamp collecting, bird watching, and excelled in his most notable hobby, photography. He began making films at the age of fourteen. One of his many movies, was that of the army troops moving down Highway 80 during WW II. Willis had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He was an eager learner, always jotting things down in his diaries and tracking the weather.
Willis was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Longview, where he served as a deacon. He was a member of the Longview Masonic Lodge 404, 32nd-degree member of the Dallas Consistory of the Scottish Rite, a Noble of the Sharon Shrine Temple, Tyler, Texas. He was a charter member of the Sons of the American Revolution, East Texas Chapter. For over twenty years he maintained a membership in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association AOPA. He was also a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontics, Texas Dental Association and the Southwest Society of Orthodontics. In addition to this, he was a charter member of the Orthodontic Alumni Association of Baylor University College of Dentistry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Edwin and Talmadge, Horace Kenneth Booth and sister Mary Elizabeth Booth and granddaughter, Kathryn Hogue.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Adamson Booth; children, Cynthia Stetson and husband, Robert of Fort Collins, CO, Jim Booth and wife, Brenda, of Austin, Susan Aucoin and husband, Glenn, and Morris Booth of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Laura Bennett, Lindsey Harding, Garrett and McKinley Booth. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be at 12 p.m. Monday, December 28, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church, Longview, TX. The Dr. W. D. O'Neal and the Rev. Jonathan Jehorek will be officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Lee Booth, Robert Stetson, Michael Gay, David Quinn, Jim Lindsey and Mick Booth.
A very special gratitude goes to Dr. Rick Earnest and his nurses April Edmondson and Ginger Richardson, and also to Life Care Health Services. The family wishes to thank Y. D. Hutchinson for his loving care of Dr. Booth in the past few years and Louella and Thomas Scott for their friendship and care over the years.
Memorial contributions in honor of Dr. J. W. Booth, Jr. may be made to any church, charitable, or benevolent organization of your choice.
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