Hubert A Hembree

Hubert Alan Hembree, 92, Liberty, MO died on Feb. 21, 2015 surrounded by family. Hembree was born in Farmington, Ark. to Wiley and Lucy (Rowe) Hembree on July 26, 1922. In 1942, Hembree signed up for the Army Air Corps and served as a flight navigator, delivering planes to England, Scotland, India and Canada during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and moved to Memphis, Tenn. There he met his wife of 68 years, Frances (Pruitt) Hembree. Hembree trained as an Air Traffic Controller and worked in Alaska and South Dakota before settling in Liberty in 1957 to raise his family. He worked at both the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport and at the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe. He retired from the FAA in 1972. He was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty, having served as both as an elder and a deacon and doing volunteer maintenance for the church. He was a member of the Fellowship of the Concerned. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and spent countless hours assisting others, whether it be repairing a neighbor’s roof or driving someone to weekly doctor appointments. Hembree was a man of many hobbies and also enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening, woodworking and mechanics. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Lucy (Rowe) Hembree, sister, Loree Snyder. He is survived by his wife, Frances of Liberty, Mo.; sister, Melva Abraham of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; his children, Gwen (Jon) Preston; Michael (Corinne) Hembree; Debra (Tom) Funkhouser; Stacye (William) Parry; Randy (Kim) Hembree; Meridith (Greg) Berry; 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1:00 at the First Presbyterian Church of Liberty. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to The Fellowship of the Concerned or First Presbyterian Church of Liberty.