John C. O'Brien's Obituary
John C. O?Brien, 74, of Longview, retired meteorologist, died March 13, 2006. He was born December 11, 1931 in Concord, N.H., the son of Agnes Sylvia Fannie and John Henry O?Brien.
Funeral services will be 10 AM Friday, March 17, in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home, Longview, with Father Xavier Pappu officiating. Interment will follow in Rosewood Park Cemetery. The family will greet friends Thursday 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home.
John graduated from Penacook, N.H. High School in 1949, whereby joining the US Air Force and beginning his career in meteorology, serving in Arabia, Tripoli and the States. Upon discharge in April 1954, he started work with the Joint Numerical Weather Office in Suitland, Maryland. In 1957, John worked as a civilian weather forecaster on Coast Guard ships in the North Atlantic for 5 years. He then transferred to Huntington, W.V. Airport for 4 years, Portland, Maine airport for 2 years and then to Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fl, where he forecasted weather for the Apollo Moon launches starting in 1967. When moon exploration ended, he transferred to Daytona Beach, Fl for 2 years and then came to Longview, TX as meteorologist in charge of Chalk Hill. John retired form this position in July of 1986. He then worked for Joyce Flanagan Realty for several years.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Winnie, children: Terry-Ann Gainer of Longview, TX and North Pole, Alaska, and Eric Wade O?Brien and wife Brandy of Hallsville, TX; grandsons: David Pogar, Jr of Florida, Ryan Nicholas Pogar of England and John Curtis O?Brien of Hallsville, TX; great grandchildren: Marissa Lanae Crown-Pogar, Alyssa Jade Pogar and Jack Ryan Pogar; sisters: Patricia Cullinan and husband Tim of California and Catherine Carrier and husband Henry of N. H. and several nephews and great nephews.
Donations may be made to Heartsway Hospice of Northeast Texas.
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