John C. Musgrove

Lieutenant Colonel John C. Musgrove, U.S. Army, Retired, died September 9, 2011, in Austin. He was born October 17, 1929, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, to John Hamilton Musgrove and Mary Enna Conner Musgrove. Lt. Col. Musgrove served proudly in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1952-72 in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, Utah, and overseas in Korea, Germany, Okinawa, and Vietnam. In 1950, he married Edie (Frieda Ann) Pursch; in 2010, they celebrated 60 years of marriage at a special reception. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Enna Musgrove, and by his younger brother, William A. Musgrove, a U.S. Navy pilot who was lost at sea in 1958. He is survived by his wife Edie, children Ann Louise Vinores and husband Stanley, John Allen Musgrove and wife Margaret, James Lewis Musgrove, and Jeffrey Stephen Musgrove and wife Judy; grandchildren Melissa, Tammi, Charles, Marla, Morgan, Elaine, Eric, Madeline, April, Rebecca, Rachel and Jason and great-grandchildren Tyler and Evan.

One of the first Key Computer Specialists in the U.S. Army, Lt. Col. Musgrove was assigned to the Computer Systems Command in various locations. During his career, he was awarded the Legion of Merit (OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal (OLC). Following retirement, he was proud to receive Korea and Vietnam honors from the Daughters of the Confederacy. He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Military Officers Association of America and the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans. Following his military retirement, he was hired to manage a major computer operation for the State of Texas Department of Welfare/Human Services. He was elected national president of the American Association of Public Welfare Information Systems Management and president of DPMA Data Processing Management Association. Moving to the private sector as the Texas state government director for ClayDesta Communications, he was instrumental in expanding an innovative high-speed digital communications network to state agencies and universities. He was then recruited by MCI, and later WorldCom, to extend this network to provide voice and data services for Tex-AN, now the centralized telecommunications system for the State of Texas. He retired in July 1996. He was listed as a computer scientist in Who's Who in the South and Southwest, and was honored as an Admiral in the Texas Navy (1986) and as Alcalde, Ciudad de La Villita (1980).

Having become fond of Austin as a boy, John chose to live there from his military retirement in 1972 until his death. He and Edie enjoyed boating and skiing on Lake Austin and were longtime members of sports car clubs. John served as President of the Texas Spokes Sports Car Club and in various capacities with the Hill Country Region, Porsche Club of America. He and Edie owned a total of six Porsches over the years and in 2008 were selected Porsche Family of the Year, a national award that was presented by Mr. Peter Porsche of Germany. In July 2011, John and Edie traveled to Savannah, GA, for another Porsche Parade.

In August 2010, John was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where as a child he helped his father bail water from the original labs decades ago. He fought hard and enjoyed his life until the end. A lifelong Longhorn fan, John was able to attend a Texas football game the weekend before his death.

This announcement would not be complete without recognizing the Musgroves' faithful and loving pet dog, Bonnie, an Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler, who was seldom out of sight of Col. Musgrove, even on lengthy driving trips, usually in one of the Porsches.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Camp Mabry Chapel, Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the charity of your choice.