Michael N. Estes

Michael N. Estes, Major, US Army Retired, passed away in his home in New Braunfels, TX on April 25, 2010. Michael was born to Ned W. and Dorothy Estes on October 9, 1951 in Memphis, TX. He was preceded in death by his father and survived by his mother Dorothy, brothers Patrick and Joel, son Michael and wife Donna, grandchildren: Anneliese, Alysa, David and Jackson Estes, his wife, Wanda, step-grandson, Daniel, and many aunts, uncles, nephews, and cousins.

Michael joined the Army at age 19 where he served as an enlisted man for 3 years. During that time he chose to complete his education and return to the Army as a commissioned officer. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and his Master of Science Degree from Florida Institute of Technology. His twenty year Army career included an assignment as the commander to the 47th Ordnance Detachment at Fort Hood, TX, in the early eighties, Contracting Officer in Saudi Arabia prior to and during the Gulf War, and Explosives Ordnance Disposal Inspector General. After serving in the Army for 20 years, he worked as a Procurement Business Manager for Brown & Root Services in Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Hungary, and eventually in the US. He was also a Senior Subcontract Administrator for Lockheed Martin in Greenville, SC, and a Procurement Manager for Brown & Root for the Kosovo, Balkan Region. Approximately, ten years ago he settled in the San Antonio area after acquiring a position with Zachry Construction.

Michael will be missed very much by his wife, Wanda, who thought of him as her loving soul mate as well as her best friend. Michael was a very generous and caring man to those close to him. He was extraordinarily proud of his son, also named Michael, who is now a Marine Major serving as Foreign Area Officer in the Philippines. Senior Michael was a private pilot and loved piloting both motorized planes and sailplanes.

Private services were held at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Michael’s memory may make them to the American Cancer Society.