John Edward "Ed" Sullivan, Jr., 70, of Nixon, TX passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 after a valiant battle against cancer. Ed was the son of the late John Edward Sullivan and Myrtle Elizabeth Mackey of Hot Springs, AR; and brother of the late Julia Ann Inge of Austin, TX. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Diane Sullivan; their daughters Sherri Sullivan of Seattle, WA and Jennifer Drumm and her husband Mark Drumm of Thorndale, TX; grandchildren Emily Drumm and Mason Drumm; his niece Debra George and her husband John George and their family of Waco, TX; and Cheryl Walker and her husband David Walker and their family of Austin, TX.

Ed was born November 5, 1942 in Hot Springs, AR; graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1960; earned a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Henderson State Teachers College in 1964; married Diane Tolson August 15, 1964 in Hot Springs, AR; and earned an MBA from the University of Arkansas in 1978.

Ed was an officer in the U.S. Army for 23 years and served in the Vietnam War as a DUSTOFF pilot where he earned 16 awards including the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal. Among his assignments, he served as the MEDDAC Treaty Officer in Panama during the planning and preparation for implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty 1978 - 1981. He retired in 1987 having achieved the rank of Lt. Col.

Ed was a member of the Nixon Lions Club, a member of the board of directors of the Gonzales Independence Golf Course and served as the Vice President of the Water Protection Association for several years. He was a loving husband, devoted father and a proud American.

Arrangements have been made to hold a visitation at Finch Funeral Chapel on Sunday, September 15th from 3p.m. to 5p.m. at 308 E. Third St. Nixon, TX. The burial is scheduled Monday, September 16th at 1:45 at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org.

Arrangements by Finch Funeral Chapel, LLC, of Nixon (830) 582-1521.

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