John Dorr Ochsner

John Dorr Ochsner passed away on November 17, 2018 at the age of 88, surrounded by his 3 children.John was born in Lockney, Texas on May 18, 1930 to Lloyd Dorr Ochsner and Clara Jewel Shelton Ochsner. John was the 2nd of 3 children. He graduated from Eldorado High School in May 1947.Following graduation from high school, he attended Tarleton State College where he was on the track team. He went on to attend Texas Tech University and received a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 1954. While at Texas Tech he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the AIME Society and was Chairman of the Senior Class Gift to the University Committee.Following graduation, he served 2 years as a commissioned officer in the Signal Corps. John met Lena while they were both attending Texas Tech and they went on to marry in 1955 while he was serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Army, Signal Corps division stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. After being honorably discharged from the Army, John joined Lone Star Producing Company, a division of Lone Star Gas Co. as a Petroleum Engineer in East Texas. After one year, he was promoted to their Dallas office as a staff Reservoir Engineer and headed up this group prior to being promoted to District Exploration Engineer in their West Texas District located in Midland. While working for Lone Star he held various positions including the District Manager, Gas Purchases & Sales Department, Regional Manager, Gas Purchase and Sales Department, and District Manager of Gas Purchases and Contract Administration. In 1989 John retired from Lone Star and entered private practice as a Natural Gas and Petroleum Engineering Consultant. He also taught a course on Natural Gas Contracts at the Permian Basin Graduate Center of Midland for 17 years.John and Lena lived in Midland for over 50 years where they raised their 3 children and where John was active in their children's activities, their church and the community. John lived a full life as a devoted husband and father and also lived a life of service to his community and his church. Some of his achievements and honors included: Past President of the Midland Symphony and Chorale, served on the Midland High-Lee High Youth Center Board, was a Past President of Goddard Jr. High PTA and was selected as an honorary Life Member of the Texas PTA. He is listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, was a Past President of the Natural Gas Society of the Permian Basin, served as the 2nd Vice President of the Texas Tech Dad’s Association, also served as a Young Life Board Member, and was the first recipient of the Natural Gas Society of the Permian Basin Founders Award. John is a registered Petroleum Engineer and a member of the Academy of Petroleum Engineers at Texas Tech University. He was a pioneer in helping to develop the Natural Gas Purchase and Sales contract and taught numerous Contracts classes at Midland College and for various Energy Industry associations. He served as an Elder at Trinity Presbyterian Church and was the Chairman of Trinity’s Building Committee in charge of construction of the sanctuary, office and chapel/parlor complex. John’s interests included aviation and was a licensed private pilot for most of his adult life. He loved to fly his plane so that he and Lena could attend the Tech football games and to visit John’s and Lena’s family in various cities in Texas. He also loved to spend an afternoon flying in the blue skies of West Texas and was a Colonel in the Confederate Air Force. John also loved sports of any kind but was well known for being a coach for his son’s baseball and basketball teams and his daughter’s softball teams for many years. A lifelong avid golfer he loved to play golf but especially with all his children. He enjoyed teaching in the classroom thru his oil and gas contracts courses, coaching youngsters and sharing his calm wisdom, about life with colleagues, friends and especially to his children and grandchildren.John was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lena Frances Ochsner, and has been living in the Plano Texas area close to his daughter Julie since Lena passed away in 2014. John is survived by his three children; John Ochsner, II of Houston, Dr. Robert Ochsner of Midland and Julie Ochsner of Plano, and his 6 grandchildren, Alexandra, Amy, Miles, John III, Jennifer and Kirsten. John is also survived by his brother, George Ochsner of Midland.The family would like to thank his hospice team and his companion caregivers as well as his various other facility caregivers and volunteers that provided support for him; medically, physically, spirituality and with companionship. John was passionate about supporting many cause throughout his life and if you would like to make a donation honoring John, his family would like to suggest VNA Hospice Care. Donations can be made to: VNA Hospice Care at vnatexas.org or VNA Texas (Collin Branch), 5601 Virginia Parkway Suite 1, McKinney, Texas 75071.The family will receive anyone wishing to pay their respects to John from 6:00-8:00PM on Sunday November 25, 2018 at Nalley Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday November 26, 2018 also at Nalley Pickle & Welch Chapel with a military graveside ceremony to follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,