Kirby Wayne Hosey, Sr., beloved son, husband, father and Boppy. Kirby was born on December 17, 1938 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Kenneth Custer and Valliree Morgan Hosey. Kirby was their only child. He grew up in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he enjoyed playing baseball, school activities and family reunions and boyish mischief with his cousins. He and his parents vacationed by fishing and hunting together. Kirby graduated from Arkadelphia High School in 1956. Active in the ROTC program, he graduated in 1960 from Henderson State Teachers College with a degree in mathematics/minor in accounting. He then graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College.
On March 26, 1959, he married Mary Elizabeth Wolf in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She was his “Special Angel” (as that was ‘their song”). They each doted on and served one another in special, unique ways. They were blessed with three children, Wayne, Holly and Steve. The family moved frequently in support of Kirby’s military assignments from stateside to around the world; crossing the globe before the birth of each child. They came to call College Station, Texas “home” when Kirby joined the 420th Engineering Brigade based in Bryan, Texas. He faithfully served our country for 23 years as a US Army officer with many assignments taking him away from family and home. He began his military career in the infantry, moving on to headquarters and then engineering. In addition to numerous stateside assignments, Kirby also served multiple tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea. Kirby retired in 1981 as a Lieutenant Colonel having received many honors, citations and medals including the Bronze Star (list follows). One military honor that he was particularly proud of was having his name memorialized in College Station’s Veterans Park. He was very moved that his eleven year old (at that time) grandson, Sam, raised the money and honored him in that way. He was especially proud that his family attended and supported him at the dedication.
After retirement from the military, Kirby immediately began his second career with the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), a member of the Texas A&M University System. He traveled all over Texas as the Training Specialist and then Program Coordinator of the Engineering, Utilities and Public Works Training Institute. After 22 years of faithful service to TEEX and the State of Texas, Kirby retired in 2003 to care for his mother until she passed away in 2006.
Kirby enjoyed many hobbies including wood working, repairing and tinkering with vehicles, gardening, reading Louis Lamoure books, creating the most delectable fudge known to man, appreciating the virtues of Blue Bell Ice Cream and “being Boppy” with his grandchildren. He was quick to lend a hand to anyone in need. It was not uncommon to have a friend’s vehicle parked in his driveway for repairs. He was a steadfast friend; cheerful, helpful, humorous and with just the right sense of playful mischief. He and Mary enjoyed playing many rounds of Bridge with best friends since their early military days, Carol and Hank Gilmore, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They carried on that tradition with best friends from College Station, Bill and Ila Magee. The “boys” were usually kind enough to let the “girls” win most of the time. We all knew better (wink).
Kirby and Mary were blessed with 53 years of marriage that included three children, three better children (some call in-laws), seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He has joined his Special Angel, Mary, who preceded him in death in March 2012.
Kirby was also preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Valliree Hosey, and parents-in-law, Richard Maurice “Dick” and Kathryn Wolf, all from Arkansas.
He is survived by son Wayne Hosey and wife, Donna, grandchildren Brandon and Nick, all of Hallsville, Texas, and John McKendrick and his daughter, great-grandchild, Caitlyn, of San Antonio; son, Steve Hosey and wife, Jenny, grandchildren Nathan, Melissa and Amanda, all of College Station; daughter, Holly (Hosey) Crenshaw, grandson Sam Crenshaw of College Station; and son-in-law, Wayne Crenshaw of Bryan/Peach Creek Community. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Geneva Wolf Patton, husband, Norman, of Waterford, Michigan and nephew, David and his son, great-nephew Anthony, of Clarkston, Michigan.
The family would like to thank the outstanding staff and volunteers at Hudson Creek Alzheimer’s Care Center, Hospice Brazos Valley, Dr. Turner, Dr. Hackethorn and longtime physician, Dr. McIlhaney. Thank you all for your kindness, dedication and professionalism in answering your life’s calling.
Kirby requested to not have a military funeral. His family wants to honor his decades of service to our country by listing medals awarded (citations being too numerous to list) to give an idea of the breadth of his service. In addition to having the honor of serving as Color Guard at the funeral of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Kirby was awarded the following: Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm (twice awarded); Combat Infantryman Badge; National Defense Service Medal.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 10:00am at the Rest-Ever Cemetery in Bryan, Texas with the Reverend Bill Magee officiating. Arrangements are coordinated by Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity, support a veteran and our troops, do a kind deed for someone in need… or just because. Kirby would suggest brightening someone’s day with Blue Bell ice cream.
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