More detail on this person: Lt. Colonel Howard
Edward Funk, USAF Retired, 91, passed away on
Monday, April 4, 2016. Burial with military honors
will be at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery at
9:30AM on Friday, April 6, 2016. Howard is
survived by his loving wife of nearly 70 years,
Doris Irene Rust Funk, his son Michael and his
wife Irene and his daughter Pam and her husband
Dave Gangl. He has three grandchildren, Fallon
Fahrendorf and her husband Matt of Phoenix,
Arizona, Kaitlyn Taylor Kuczer and her husband
David of Dallas, Texas and Kaitlyn Ann Martin Fox
and her husband Blake of Boston, Massachusetts.
His father, Carlos Isaac Funk; his mother, Sara
Leota Colwell; his sister Evelyn Cyr; brothers,
Gerald Funk and William (Bill) Funk all preceded
him in death. Lt. Col. Funk was born on July 26,
1924, in Clyde, Kansas and later moved to Milo,
Missouri where he and his family were farmers. He
loved books and reading so after graduation from
El Dorado High School he enlisted in the Army Air
Force as an Aviation Cadet on April 1943. After
earning his wings he continued to serve as a pilot
until he left the service in April 1947. During
this time, he was stationed at various stateside
locations for further aircraft upgrade training
for multi engine aircraft. In 1945 he went to
Japan after the war in the Pacific ended for C-47
flying and additional duties as a Supply Officer.
After returning to the United States he served at
Fort Worth Texas Army Air Field where he met the
love of his life, Irene Rust. He often said she
was the best thing that ever happened to him. On
June 2, 1946, they were married in Chapel One on
the Army Base. After leaving the Army Air Corps in
1947, he began work in the Sport Department until
he reentered the Air Force in April 1953. During
this time, he stayed active in the Air Force
Reserves flying various aircraft out of James
Connolly Air Base in Waco, Texas. Also, during
this time he served as a Pilot Observer and Flight
Engineer but primarily as a Pilot. He also had
numerous additional duties from Supply Officer to
Aircraft Test Pilot for damaged aircraft. He was
modest and didn't talk much about what he
accomplished but he received many honors and
awards in his career including the Air Force
Commendation Medal and Clusters at the hardest
earned three air combat medals during his combat
tour in Southeast Asia. He was often praised for
his dedication to his job whether flying or
routine paperwork. He was a hard worker; his
commanders noted he was above average in
intelligence and above average skill as a pilot
and strong leadership abilities. His character was
above reproach, honest, loyal, and his word was
his bond. He was admired by his family, friends
and fellow Air Force officers and enlisted
personnel everywhere he worked. Lt. Col. Funk felt
honored he was to serve his country during WWII,
Korea, Vietnam and during The Cold War. He was
truly a part of the "Greatest Generation." Because
of his skill as a pilot he was routinely selected
to train others and command. One of his more
memorable appointments was his deployment to
Greece in 1956, from his duties as an Air Reserve
helicopter pilot at Spangdohlem AB Germany to
train new Greek helicopter pilots on the H-19.
During his 28 years in the Air Force he flew over
20 different types of light to heavy aircraft
including the C-45, C-46, C-47, C-54, T-28 T-29,
B-17, B-24, B-25 and B-29. In 1953 when he
reentered the Air Force he chose to retrain to fly
helicopters. He flew primarily, until mid-1960,
the Sikorsky H-19. While stationed at Little Rock
AFB while he transitioned to the UH-1 "Huey" while
he flew until his retirement in 1971. During the
Vietnam War he flew the UH1F/P/N model
helicopters for missile site support stateside and
the UH-1F/P during deployments to Thailand and
The Republic of Vietnam. During his Vietnam
deployments he flew special operations missions
as a lead pilot in the 20th Halo Squadron. He flew
168 hours of combat mission time encountering
hostile fire while inserting Green Beret and Navy
Seal Forces in "hot zones". When Lt. Col. Funk
retired from Air Force Service in 1971, he had
over 5700 hours flying time as a Command Pilot.
His assignment took him all over the world from
Oklahoma, California, Texas, Arkansas, and Florida
to name a few in the United States then to
Germany, Greece, Libya, Thailand and Vietnam.
Even with the fast tempo of the military he
completed Squadron Officer School in 1961 and his
college degree from Alan Hancock College in
California in 1964. After his service he continued
to work with the government out of the Veteran
Affairs Office in Waco, Texas as an Educational
and Training Representative for local colleges. He
also continued his affiliation with the service
becoming a life member of the Military Offices of
American Association. He was very proud to be
able to serve his country in the Air Force and
later with the Veteran Administration. He will be
missed deeply and loved forever by his family. The
country's loss and his family's loss will be
heavens gain and he will watch over us until we
join him. The family requests any donations be
made to the American Cancer Society .
Burial: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery,
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA
Burial information: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, TX
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 11/02/2023
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