Matt C.C. Col. Bristol, Jr.

Col. Matt C.C. Bristol Jr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday 21 February 2009. Born at Fort Sam Houston (FSH) in 1916, Colonel Bristol retired in 1969 at Fort Sam Houston as Fourth Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel after a distinguished military career of more than 30 years.

Colonel Bristol is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elinor Willis Bristol, and three children, nine grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Carver, widow of Major General George A. Carver (US Army Ret.) and her two children.

Colonel Bristol met and married Elinor while serving in Australia with General MacArthur's staff during WW II. They had three children: Colonel Matt C.C. Bristol III (US Air Force, Ret.) of Richmond, VA; Captain Roger W. Bristol (US Navy, Ret.) of Rockville, MD; and Jennifer Bristol Kimmel of Panama City Beach, FL.

Colonel Bristol's grandchildren include Matt C.C. Bristol IV, of Arlington, VA., Allison Powell, of Providence Village, TX; Ashley Payne, Lauren Payne and Richard Payne, all of Austin, TX; Kimberly Bristol of Laurel, MD; Pamela Bristol, of San Francisco, CA; Rachel Bristol Coleman of Birmingham, AL; and Kathryn Bristol, of Baltimore, MD.

Colonel Bristol entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1935. Upon graduation in 1939 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry. His first duties were with the 2nd (Indianhead) Division at Fort Sam Houston. After serving in the Pacific during WWII and a tour of duty at Fort Benning, GA, he returned again to FSH for three years' duty with the Fourth Army logistics service. Later tours of duty included service in Iran, multiple tours at the Pentagon, regimental commands at Fort Jackson, SC, and finally his tour at Fourth Army Headquarters.

His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. While in Greece Colonel Bristol received the King George Cross and while in Iran the Merit Medal First Class.

San Antonio was always home to Colonel Bristol, even though his military service took him afar. Following retirement, he and Elinor continued to live in the family home in Terrell Hills, TX until they moved into the Army Residence Community, where Elinor still resides.

The family is especially grateful to all the staff at The Oaks, at the Army Residence Community, who so lovingly and patiently cared for Colonel Bristol in the final stage of his battle with Parkinson's Disease.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made, in Colonel Bristol's name, to the American Parkinson Disease Association, to support continued research into the causes and prevention of this debilitating disease. Colonel Bristol will be buried at a private service at the Huffman family plot at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California, along side his beloved father and mother.