George Derrick

George Derrick, age 91, of Gatesville passed away Thursday, February 25, 2016. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 28, 2016 at Scott’s Funeral Home. Private family burial will be held. There will be no visitation. George was born on April 9, 1924 in Coryell County to George Lawrence Derrick and Martha Jackson Derrick. He grew up in the Whitehall and Turnersville area, where he graduated from high school in 1941. George worked in the Houston shipyards as a shipfitter in 1942. In January 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and went to boot camp in San Diego, California. While there, he attended Class “A” Gunnery School, Advanced Gunnery, and Electric Hydraulics classes. He graduated with a Gunnery Mate, Third Class rating, and then was assigned to the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Hancock, as a “AA” Gunner. He served on the Hancock the remainder of WWII. George fought in seven battles, including Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He was wounded on April 7, 1945 during the battle of Okinawa. The U.S.S. Hancock is credited with shooting down 733 enemy planes and sinking 45 enemy ships. George was honorably discharged in February 1946 at Camp Wallace, Texas. George learned how to fly a single engine aircraft after his military service in WWII. Following his discharge, he worked in the oil fields of west Texas, New Mexico, and south Texas for 35 years, retiring in 1985. In later years, George wrote three books, “Navy Gunner”, “Growing Up in Coryell County, Texas”, and an autobiography, “George Weldon Derrick.” He was married to Mabel Katheryn Wolf in 1947. Together they had three children, Georgia Kaye, Glen Ray, and Glenda Fay. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Earl Lawrence Derrick, Bennie Derrick, and Milton Ray Derrick; children, George Kaye and Glenda Fay. George is survived by his son, Glen Derrick of Fort Worth; cousins, John Kermit Derrick of Gatesville, Jerry Derrick of Hewitt, and Nina Lee of Gatesville; nephews, Charlie Derrick and Steve Derrick of Boston, MA; as well as many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.