Henry
Williams (Hank) Kingsbery of Beaumont, Texas passed away April 16, 2007 at
Harbor Hospice House in Beaumont.
Hank was born March 30, 1921 in Santa Anna, Texas to Howard T. and Mabel (Woodward) Kingsbery. He attended Santa Anna High School, graduating in 1937. After graduation, he attended Northwestern State College in Alva, Oklahoma until 1939. In 1942, Hank graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Chemical Engineering and was a loyal Aggie until the end.
Hank enlisted in the Air Force in June of 1942. During his service as a B-24 pilot, he flew 26 missions with the 8th Air Force; 2nd Air Division; 446th Bomber Group; 706th Bomber Squadron. On his final mission, he crashed into a field in England and was severely injured. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received. Hank retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Lt. Colonel in 1965. He began his career at Neches Butane Products Company in Port Neches, Texas in 1945. Starting as an assistant Process Engineer, Hank became Vice President and General Manager in 1965. After leaving Neches Butane in 1969, he worked as a consulting engineer for Walk Haydell and Associates in New Orleans and later for Aware Operating Services in Houston, before retiring in 1983. Hank was a charter member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church where he was an elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was an avid "letter to the editor" writer, a fisherman and a hunter, a little league coach, a member of the computer club, a good Aggie, a bird watcher, and a story teller.
Hank was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Tom Kingsbery of Santa Anna, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Park Kingsbery; four sons, Joe Kingsbery and his wife Huimin of Austin, Texas, Walter Kingsbery and Jane Christman of Boulder, Colorado, Stuart Kingsbery and his wife Lauren of Louisville, Company, Bill Kingsbery and his wife Heidi of Ahnatal, Germany; five grandchildren, Austin Kingsbery and his wife Amy of Round Rock, Texas, Kate Kingsbery and Sarah Kingsbery of Louisville, Colorado, Phillip Kingsbery and Stephan Kingsbery of Ahnatal, Germany; three great-grandchildren, Fischer Kingsbery, Marley Kingsbery and Hallie Kingsbery of Round Rock, Texas; Hank is also survived by his brother, F. C. (Jack) Kingsbery of Crystal City, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the following organizations: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1350 23rd Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706; Some Other Place, 1240 McFaddin, Beaumont, Texas, 77701; Santa Anna Cemetary Association, c/o Coyita Bowker, 1105 South 8th Street, Santa Anna, Texas 76878.
(Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice, Coleman, Texas, April 24, 2007, page 14.)