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Jack Frank Angel

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Jack Frank Angel passed away October 24, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. He was born May 3, 1927, the youngest child of Clarence and Ethel Angel in Ponca City, Okla. 

Jack grew up in Purcell along with his brothers, Roy and Ralph, and sister, Anna Grace. He was married to Janice P. Angel, of Oklahoma City, from 1951-1972, with whom he had two daughters, Deborah and Daphne. He was married to Rayathip Sue Angel, of Bangkok, Thailand, from 1973 until his death.    

Jack was a star athlete at Purcell High School, class of 1945, but left in April 1945 to enlist in the United States Coast Guard. He served aboard the USS Admiral C. F. Hughes (AP-124) crossing the Pacific to the Philippines during World War II.

Following his discharge, he attended the University of Oklahoma on a basketball scholarship and the GI Bill.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, Quartermaster Corps, in the US Army. Certified a Master Parachutist, he served in airborne status throughout his Army career including Battalion Commander, 173rd Airborne Support Battalion in Vietnam, 1968-1969.  

Upon retirement in 1971, he began a new phase of his life, settling in Bangkok, Thailand, where he took up distance running and remained a dedicated runner for the rest of his life. He and Sue ran innumerable marathons including the Marine Corps, New York and Boston marathons. They even climbed Mount Everest.

As an experienced parachutist, he and Sue worked with General Saiyud Kerdphol, Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, in Operation MITRAPAB (Thai word for friendship) annual parachute demonstrations conducted by the Thai military and the Joint United States Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) that supported building two hundred schools in Thailand.  

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sister.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter, Deborah Angel-Schultz and husband, Ken Schultz, of Winter Park, Fla.; daughter, Daphne and husband, Tom Westerlund, of Mount Dora, Fla.; stepson, David Yoder and wife, Tristine, and their son, Noah, of San Diego, Calif.; grandson, Derek LaVelle and wife, Vanessa, and great-grandchildren, Cameron and Sofia LaVelle, all of Aurora, Colo.; mother-in-law, Srisupa Suwanmalai of Bangkok; sister-in-law, Noi and husband, Dang Johgklai, of Bangkok; and close family friends, Toi and Chase Scheier of Bangkok.

Jack continued subscribing to and reading The Purcell Register to the very end.

Remembrances may be sent to Sue, rayathip.sue.angel@gmail.com; and Deborah, debkens@bellsouth.net.