Freddie John Hennes Jr

Freddie John Hennes, Jr. better known to his friends and family as Fred or F. J., was born November 27, 1923, in Blackwell, Oklahoma to Fred and Gail Stevens Hennes. He died June 11, 2013. He was a resident of Stafford, Texas, for 24 years.

Fred served in the Philippines in the Second World War as a member of the US Army’s 1296th Combat Battalion Engineers as they prepared to attack Japan just before the atomic bomb was dropped. After the war he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.

When his soldiering days were over, Fred returned to Oklahoma and enrolled in the engineering program at Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in 1948. While at OSU he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He was a loyal OSU alumnus.

Upon completion of college Fred began his 35 year career with Gulf Oil Corporation serving in the Human Resources dept. and the Comptroller’s Office. His work carried him to Hobbs, New Mexico, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. He enjoyed his assignments as a recruiter of college engineers for Gulf Oil.

Fred was a passionate golfer and avid stock follower of the stock market. He enjoyed helping others to understand how to follow stocks and what to look for in a good stock. He was a long time member of Willowisp Country Club in Houston and later Sugar Creek Country Club in Sugar Land. He was very proud of his two hole-in-ones. He was an enthusiastic member of the Crazy Eights square dance group.

He was active in civic affairs in Stafford serving multiple years on the Stafford Planning Commission and several years as chairman of the commission. He served one term on the Stafford City Council. He was a strong proponent of the Stafford MSD Education Foundation. While living in Houston he was an active member of St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Upon moving to Stafford he became an active member of First United Methodist Church, Sugar Land, singing in the choir and participating in the Discover Sunday School class.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 31 years, Wynona Harrison Hennes, mother of his two sons. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Linda James Hennes, two sons Richard and his wife Bridget, John and his wife Lynette, grandchildren Adam, Rebecca, Matthew, Sarah, and Jeffrey, two stepsons Kenneth James III and wife Karen, Brian James and wife Anna, and grandchildren Briana, Kaitlyn, and Henry James.

A memorial service will be held on June 25, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, Texas, 77478.

Interment will be in Austin, Texas, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery, 14619 IH-35 North, Austin, Texas 78660 (512-251-4119)

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers memorials be made in remembrance of Fred to Stafford MSD Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1907, Stafford, Texas 77977 or the Sugar Land First United Methodist Church Choir Fund, 431 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.