More detail on this person: Ernie Leroy Greening died Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at age 78, at
Hospice of the Hills House in Harrison after a 25 year battle with Parkinson's disease.
Ernie, who was born in Stoutsville, Missouri June 8, 1937, finished high school in 1955 and
immediately began his career in the U.S. Army that same year.
Ernie went on to serve 28 years in the military, retiring as a chief warrant officer (CW4). During
his service, he was assigned to 2 tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and was decorated 64 times.
Ernie completed 6290 hours in rotary wing aircraft and 2133 hours in fixed wing aircraft during his
military career. To commemorate his service in Vietnam, a toy company called Corgi created a
die-cast model helicopter to replicate Ernie's UH-1C Huey Gunship, 227th AHB as part of its Unsung
Heroes collection. He retired from the Army in 1985 and moved his family to Arkansas, where he could
continue to fly airplanes.
In Harrison, Ernie was an adult probation officer for 10 years and worked for Boone, Newton, and
Marion counties. In his retirement he enjoyed hunting, especially with his mules, and getting on the
computer to share his military stories and find his Vietnam friends.
Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Emmet and LaFern; his brother, Lowell; his first wife,
Karin, and his eldest son, George. Ernie is survived by his wife Kris; his sisters, Cleva Lew
(George) Roth and Cheryl Davidson; his brother, Dewayne (Anita) Greening; his children, Heidi (Erik)
Anderson, Tom (Lisa) Greening, Erin (Thomas) Tabor and Rebekah (Eddie) Powell; his grandchildren,
Jamie, Brandi, Gunner, Hanna, Karina, Connor, Parker, Ethan, Emma, and Elin; and his
great-grandchildren, Kamryn, Karson, Nadia, Zane, Tate, and Dayson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Hills, PO Box 1927, Harrison, AR 72602,
or Branson Bible Church where he was a member.
Memorial service will be Saturday, January 16, 2016, at 2:00 PM, in the North Arkansas College
Center Campus Durand Center. There will be an informal gathering one hour before the memorial
service to view photos and visit with friends and family.
Full military honor burial will be at Fort Riley Kansas at a later date.
Burial: Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Riley, Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, USA
From Rebekah Powell, his daughter_Dad passed away peacefully last evening with mom by his side.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday in the Durand Center at North Arkansas College in Harrison.
There will be an informal gathering beginning at 1:00pm, with service at 2:00. Full Military Honor
Burial will be held at Fort Riley Kansas at a later date.
Again, I can't express how thankful we are for all of your love and prayers. We find great solace in
knowing he is walking with God, free of pain and suffering.
This information was last updated 11/06/2012
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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