Eugene F. Ticknor

Our family is deeply saddened to announce Major Eugene F. "Sam" Ticknor, USAF (Ret) passed away on May 26, 2022, in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas at the age of 92. Sam will remain a very important part of our lives as a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, uncle and friend. He was born on October 29, 1929, in Anoka, Nebraska, on the day referred to by many as "Black Friday", when the U.S. stock market crashed leading into the worst depression in American history. Although raised in humble circumstances, Sam had a respect and love for his family's ability to survive hardships with happiness and reflection. He was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Elizabeth Laney Ticknor; his first wife, Laurel Jean Ticknor; sisters, Helen (Lewis) Brown and Margaret (Harold) Romine; and brothers, Lt. Donald H. Ticknor and Robert Ticknor.

At the age of six during the Depression years, Sam, his parents, and his four siblings moved from Nebraska and resettled in Denver, Colorado. He would meet in fifth grade a lovely, intelligent and thoughtful young classmate, Laurel Jean Blaney, who would later become his high school sweetheart and eventual wife. Sam graduated from Wheat Ridge High School, Denver, Colorado, near the top of his class (where he was also the starting quarterback on the school football team) and the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley in 1952. Sam started college on a football scholarship but turned his interests to Education and Mathematics as his chosen degrees. During the height of the Korean War, he entered the United States Air Force in 1952, was commissioned an officer in 1953 with the Strategic Air Command, and was stationed in many stateside bases, as well as tours in England and France with Allied Air Forces Central Europe. Sam retired in 1972 at the age of 42 after serving his country for 20 years with distinction and honor. His decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal. He was dedicated to life-long learning and later earned advanced degrees from Worcester State College, Worcester, Mass. and Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. After his Air Force retirement, our family moved to San Antonio in 1972. Sam began his second 20-year career as a counselor, diagnostician, and specialist in school psychology with Cluster IV, Harlandale ISD and Southside ISD. Sam's dedication to assessing children and addressing their learning challenges as a school psychologist and diagnostician positively impacted thousands of young people's lives across San Antonio and South Texas.

In his 70s, following Jean's sad and untimely passing from cancer in 1996 after almost 50 years of marriage, Sam was still active and "on the go." He competitively ran in 5K and 10K marathons, often sharing with family and friends that he sometimes won first or second place ribbons and trophies. then adding with a smile there were actually only 2 or 3 participants in his competition class over the age of 70. Sam also was an avid golfer at Fair Oaks Country Club well into his 80s with his beloved second wife, Estela (who lost her first husband, Peter, also to cancer), once hitting a hole in one on a challenging par three accompanied by Estela and two of their favorite priests. The family joke was that Sam couldn't have done it without their formal "blessings."

Above all, Sam had a devotion to his family, friends and Church. Sam's joy, integrity, and commitment to family will forever inspire us. He filled our lives with unconditional love, warmth, spirituality, and laughter. He always sought to find the best in others and challenged us to be the best version of ourselves through perseverance and hard work. A life-long parishioner, the last 20 years of Sam's life found him as an active, dedicated member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Leon Springs where he was particularly close to the late Father Roy Rihn and to the current pastor, Father Conor McGrath. Sam and Estela hosted at their home numerous holidays and special spiritual occasions for the many retired priests living at Las Casas adjacent to SEAS. Father McGrath will always be lovingly appreciated for his friendship, his compassionate comforting of Sam through his recent health crisis, and for administering the sacrament of the Last Rights before Sam passed away peacefully at home.

Sam is survived by his loving wife, Estela King Ticknor; daughter, Kathleen M. (John) Lawless; son ,Christopher B. Ticknor, M.D.; son, Corwin T. (Mary) Ticknor; grandchildren, Andrea (Travis Kelldorf) Stellato, Austin, Tx., Christopher Stellato, West Palm Beach, Fla., Ryan (Taylor) Ticknor, San Antonio, and Rachel (Nolan) Bay, Waco, Tx; sister-in-law, Janie Ticknor, Denver, Colo.; step-daughter, Karen (Sean) Stewart, Chicago, Ill.; step-son, Keith (Cynthia) King, Austin, Tx.; step-granddaughter, Kalyn King; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Sam's life and a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 am on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 8500 Cross Mountain Trail, Leon Springs, Texas, with Fr. Conor McGrath officiating. A reception of friendship and celebration will be held afterwards in the SEAS Parish Hall. Private interment will take place in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers to include Cory Ticknor, Dr. Chris Ticknor, Ryan Ticknor, Chance Brauchle, Keith King, and Michael Playle. We collectively thank all those compassionate physicians and nurses who took such good care of Sam in his later years, especially Dr. Auston Myers, Dr. Everett Allen, Dr. Rene Quiroz, Nurse Jesse Hernandez with River City Hospice, and wonderful friends and neighbors. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Sam's name are suggested and appreciated to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

Please click here to view the services of Major Eugene F. "Sam" Ticknor., USAF (Ret)