Samuel Wallace Hoynes

Sam was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 14, 1940, to Louis Lenoir Hoynes and Catharine Parker Hoynes. The younger of two boys, Sam and his older brother Lou were raised in a loving home with their father and doting mother. Growing up in the tight knit community of Irvington, Sam made and fostered close friendships that endured for his entire life.

Sam attended Howe High School, joining the Dualz social club and graduating in 1958. Following high school, Sam enrolled at Ball State Teachers College where he joined the Kappa Sigma Kappa fraternity and received his BS in Business Administration in 1962.

At Ball State, Sam met his cherished wife of 63 years, Holly Alma Schemel. Holly was a year behind Sam in school, they were pinned and then engaged in early 1962 with the understanding that they would marry after Holly graduated in 1963.

Upon receiving his Bachelor’s degree, Sam entered the Air Force Officer Training School (OTS) program in San Antonio, Texas. During this time away, Sam decided he did not want to wait another year to be married so after OTS graduation that September he hurried back to Indiana where he and Holly were married on Sept. 29, 1962. The young couple immediately left for the first of many moves that included Sam’s training and work as a SAGE intercept controller (Mississippi & Michigan), pilot flight school (Alabama) and helicopter pilot training (Texas). Sam and Holly had their two children during this time with both Michael and Karin being born in Michigan, in 1963 and 1964.

Sam was a proud military veteran having served two tours as a helicopter pilot during the war in Vietnam. His young family moved from Wichita Falls, Texas back to Indianapolis, IN as he departed for basic and then jungle survival training in 1966. This move allowed Holly and their children to be near his parents during his absence. Sam spent a year flying missions in Vietnam where he quickly rose to aircraft commander and flew almost every day. He and Holly traded reel to reel tape letters during his deployment so he could hear his kids’ voices and they could hear his. Sam returned from Vietnam in 1967, receiving his Distinguished Flying Cross that same year. After being stationed in Minot, ND upon his return, Sam volunteered for a second tour in Vietnam and completed his wartime service in 1970. This second Vietnam tour included a move for the family to Tucson, AZ in 1968, with numerous intermittent 70-90 day tours in Vietnam over the next two years recovering reconnaissance drones.

Sam and many other helicopter pilots were called back to complete advanced jet pilot training in 1971. “De-Helicopterization” school at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX was quite a change with supersonic and formation flying. Sam graduated from advanced jets and was assigned to fly HC-130s with Aerospace Rescue & Recovery at Eglin AFB in Florida. Sam and Holly bought their first house in Niceville, FL while the kids continued to grow up and Sam qualified for Senior Pilot Rating & Wings and acted as flight commander and chief of safety for the Rescue Wing. After being assigned to a Tactical Drone Squadron in 1974, Sam served his final three years as a Captain in the US Air Force as a H-3 Helicopter pilot and instructor in Tucson, AZ.

After being honorably discharged from the USAF, Sam began his civilian career as a Safety Engineer for Big Three Industries in 1977. This meant another move for the family as they relocated to Arlington, TX. Sam would continue working in the Safety Department for Big Three Industries/Air Liquide for the next 30 years, accepting the position of Assistant Safety Director in 1984. With this promotion came his and Holly’s final move to Houston, TX where they would spend the next 41 years. Sam had a special gift for reviewing industrial conditions, identifying issues, and then developing processes to improve and standardize systems. He was the lead investigator and emergency responder to nationwide crisis situations and accidents in the field. Sam was also a true “people person”, excelling as a mentor, manager and collaborative team member. He was especially proud of his industry-wide work with the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) in Washington, DC.

Retirement provided space to fill with a new passion for Sam, the Houston Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). Dedicated to preserving and honoring military aviation history, years spent volunteering with the CAF gave Sam a place to pursue his interests in safety, history and education. The Houston Wing WWII museum was his baby, a commitment that led to endless hours of research and meticulous curation of a world class museum that brought in local school children, weekend adventurers, senior living residents and others on fieldtrips to enjoy a day at the hangar. In his final days, talk of the museum and recent donations brought Sam joy and comfort.

Always one for a story, Sam exuded kindness and fellowship. He bonded quickly with those he met, and held dear friends made from childhood, college, the military, his professional career and most recently his CAF squadron. He radiated joy and warmth; privileged was the person on the receiving end of his gentle smile, simple handshake and shared laughter – he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Sam was devoted to his family, always happy to have those he loved around him. With family spread far and wide, holiday and summer vacation travel was often what brought everyone together. Treasured trips to Austin and Alabama to see his children and grandchildren, and time spent in Michigan, Arizona and Martha’s Vineyard with his and Holly’s siblings meant quality time spent together making special memories to share and cherish.

Sam will be deeply missed by his wife of 63 years, Holly, his daughter Karin Hoynes Foster (Bob), grandchildren Rachel Foster Fish (Collin), Jack Foster (Sophia Baffes), Bryce Foster (Beth Berger), Mark Foster, Claire Hoynes (Michael McVay) and Sarah Hoynes Floyd (Landon), and great grandchildren Austin, Evan and Blair Fish, Kelly Barreca and Zade McVay.

Sam is also survived by his brother Louis L. Hoynes, Jr. (Ginny), sister-in-law Sally McDonald, brother-in-law Jim Schemel (Debbie), and many nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his father Louis L. Hoynes Sr., mother Catharine Parker Hoynes, son Michael Bent Hoynes, sister-in-law Betty Carl, brother-in-law Mike Carl, and brother-in-law Bill McDonald.

A memorial service will be held at American Heritage Funeral Home, Houston TX at 10:00am Friday, February 20, 2026, followed by committal service at Houston National Cemetery at 11:30am, with reception immediately following at 12:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be pleased if memorial donations were made to one of the organizations below, or to any charity of your choice:

Houston Wing of the Commemorative Air Force

www.houstonwing.org/donate/

The Wallace Center for Arts and Reconciliation www.wallacearts.org/cs-donate-page

Wreaths Across America - Houston

www.waahouston.salsalabs.org/2026/index.html