Hugh "Buddy" Moore Menking Sr.

Hugh Moore (Buddy) Menking Sr. was born on December 23, 1936 in Ft. Worth, TX to Harold & Edna Moore Menking. He graduated from W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, TX in 1955. He went to Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX where he went through the ROTC program and graduated in 1959. He married Barbara Bates in 1959 and they celebrated 65 years of marriage last November.

Buddy had a 20 year career as an Army officer serving all over the United States, Germany and Korea, as well as doing two tours in Viet Nam. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980. He went on to work another 20+ years with Cen-tel Communications and Corning Fiber Optics and then retired for a second time.

Buddy and Barbara were blessed with a son, Hugh Moore Menking, Jr. (Butch) and wife Darla of Killeen, a daughter, Nancy Menking Johnson and husband Buddy of Buda, TX and 5 grandchildren: Sarah Johnson, Bethany Hite and husband Matt, Trey Johnson and wife Kelsey, Jessica Diem and husband Chris, Jordan Menking and wife Lyndzie. They were also very proud of their 10 great-grandchildren: Nate & Drew Diem, Olivia & Liam Johnson, Macie & Beau Menking, and Sloan, Ethan & Owen Hite. Buddy was preceded in death by great-grandson Cohen Diem.

Buddy loved the Lord and he and Barbara raised their children in a Christian home so they could, in turn, raise their families to follow Christ. Buddy went to be with his Lord on July 1, 2025.

Buddy was very proud and excited about the “Carry it Forward” building campaign at First Baptist Church in Killeen. So, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Baptist Church building fund.

A visitation for Hugh will be held Monday, July 7, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, 1615 South Fort Hood Road, Killeen, Texas 765421654. Funeral service is Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Killeen, 3310 S W S Young Dr, Killeen, Texas 76542. Committal service with full military honors is Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 TX-195, Killeen, Texas 76542.