KESSINGER

Colonel Howard E. Kessinger, Jr., (USA, Ret) USMA '50 passed away at sunset on April 27, 2012 in Frisco, Texas at the age of 82. He died after a short and vigorous battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 1st at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel with burial at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Cemetery. Family received friends 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Phil Gilbreath and Marvin McFadden officiating. Pallbearers included Colonel David MacLaughlin (Ret.), Brock Smith, Ron Rowden, Dennis Bennet, Mark Strand and Lewis Christian.

Howard was born in San Antonio, Texas on May 21, 1929 to Brigadier General Howard and Ruth (McFarland) Kessinger. (USA, Retired, USMA, Class of 1924)

He was a graduate of USMA, West Point, New York, Class of 1950. The afternoon of his graduation, Howard married Joan Ashe Kessinger, the love his life. They have been married for 62 glorious and adventuresome years.

During his military career, Howard served as a field artillery man, fixed wing and helicopter pilot, and Director of IT. He served in Germany, the Korean conflict, two tours of duty in the Vietnam War, Japan, and several United States locations to include Director of Training at the helicopter center at Ft. Wolters, Mineral Wells. His decorations included Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal (1 OLC), Viet Nam Service Medal (6 Campaigns), Viet Nam Campaign Medal W/60 Device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry W/Palm and Senior Army Aviation Badge.

He retired from the Army in 1976 and began a 10-year career teaching high school science and mathematics in Jacksboro, Texas. Howard was awarded Teacher of the Year in 1988-89. He also taught the gifted and talented course and constructed scenery for the drama class productions. Many of his students have gone on to careers in science, medicine, engineering and education. After his years in the classroom, Howard was elected and served on the Jacksboro School Board (JISD) for 19 years (1991-2010). He considered his greatest accomplishment the funding and construction of the new and renovated Jacksboro elementary, middle and high schools.

Other than his family, Howard's greatest passion was Boy Scouting. Wherever Howard lived, he became an active leader and mentor to thousands of boys. He began as den dad and grew through cub scouting leadership roles to Webelos leader and then the Scout Master for several Boy Scout troops. His last and longest Scout Master position was with Troop 194 in Bridgeport, Texas. Howard and Joan sold part of their ranch to establish the Sid Richardson Scout Ranch in 1968. In addition to local scout troop participation, Howard also held several advisory and leadership positions at the Boy Scout district and council level. He was awarded the Silver Beaver award, Boy Scouting's highest adult award in 1978. He had a district camporee named in his honor in 2008. In 2010, Howard taught his favorite hobby, wood carving, at the 100th Anniversary National Boy Scout Jamboree in Fort AP Hill, Virginia.

Howard is survived by his wife, Joan Ashe Kessinger; his five children, Cyndy Hopkins of Ft. Worth, Texas, Katherine Allen and husband Glenn of San Francisco, California, LTC Stephen Kessinger, (USA, Retired) and wife Elaine of Oviedo, Florida, William Kessinger, MD and wife Rochelle of McKinney, Texas, David Kessinger and wife Sharon of El Paso, Texas; his 11 grandchildren, Stephanie Strahan, Jennifer Allen, Nancy Allen, Michael Kessinger, Jonathan Kessinger, Sarah Kessinger, Chase Kessinger, PhD, Thomas Kessinger, Kaitlin Stone, Christina Kessinger, Victoria Kessinger; and one great-granddaughter, Delaney Strahan; his sisters, Lectora Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, Ruth Ann Williams of Dunkirk, Maryland; other family members and a host of friends.

Donations in the name of Howard E. Kessinger, Jr. can be made to Boy Scout, Troop 194, Bridgeport, Texas.

Hawkins Funeral Home, Bridgeport, Texas, 940-683-2211

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