Felton DeSoto

Felton DeSoto was born February 10, 1927 to Lillie (Antee) DeSoto and Albert DeSoto at Epps, Louisiana, the second child and firstborn son of a family of six. His siblings were Jessie DeSoto (Stroud), A.J. DeSoto and Lester DeSoto. He went by many names having been born without a middle name. He was known to many as Eddie, Bud, Dee and of course as Felton. After the First World War, his father bought land near St. Maurice in Winn Parish. Felton grew up in that area until he joined the United States Merchant Marine at 17 years of age. He served on a tanker delivering aviation fuel to the Navy at forward bases in the Pacific during the latter part of World War II. After traveling the world in the Merchant Marine, he made a 22 year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a senior master sergeant assigned to the 10th Air Force at Waco, Texas. In addition to his stateside assignments at Carswell AFB, Chennault AFB, Barksdale AFB and James Connally AFB, he also served at commands in Norway, England, and France. These many years of service earned him a place at the Louisiana Veteran's Memorial Cemetery at Keithville. After retiring from the Air Force, he went to college on the G.I. Bill. He attended Northwestern State College and Louisiana Tech University where he received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's degree in elementary education. He then started his second career as a teacher for the Bossier Parish school district. Felton was a man's man who loved to fish, hunt and garden. He not only provided for his family but many, many others. He put his daughter and two sons through college to give them a better start at life. He willingly shared his catches and his garden fare. He often caught fish when no one else could. He possessed a keen intelligence and sharp mind to the end - only his body wore out. He taught himself to read at age 3. When he was in the hospital he seemed to be constantly asking for his books! He loved sports of all kinds. He played football as a youth and enjoyed watching the game later in life. Growing up the kids can remember having two TVs both with a football game playing. Felton was married twice - first to the mother of his children, Linner Broadway De Soto, and then to the love of his life, Dale Marie (Southern) DeSoto. He often said if you counted both marriages he would have been married for over 60 years -- 23 years to Linner, and August 23 of this year marked 39 years of marriage to Dale. Amazing faithfulness! He became a faithful follower of Jesus later in life. We as a family are comforted by the fact that he is in a better place. There is no more pain or sorrow, and he is waiting for us. Felton is survived by his wife, Dale Marie; his children, Larry, Linda and Warren; his brother, Lester; six grand-children; one great-grand daughter, and many friends.