Clark Kreitler

Clark F. Kreitler
Clyde, Texas

Clark F. Kreitler of Clyde, Texas, passed away at a local Abilene hospital April 25 at the age of 80. Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, 2010 in the Chapel of Parker Funeral Home in Baird, Texas with Reverend John Workman officiating. Viewing and Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Cremation will follow after the service.
There will be Military Honors at the Funeral Home. He was born Feb. 26, 1930 in Warren, Ohio to Charles F. Kreitler, Jr, and Pauline Morris Kreitler. He grew up on a working dairy farm, and like other children of the Great Depression, he learned responsibility and a strong work ethic at a young age.
Following graduation from North Jackson High School, Clark attended Ohio State University and then Kent State University, where he was a member of the ROTC unit. Following graduation from Kent State University he was sworn into the US Army as a 2"d Lt and was assigned to Ft. Benning, Ga.
In May 1953 he received orders to go to Korea, and was involved in the battle for Pork Chop Hill in the final days of the war. During that action he was wounded and received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart as well as the Combat Infantry badge and was promoted to 15` Lieutenant.
Clark graduated from the army flight school in April 1957, and from that time on his military career included flying in one way or another. In addition to flying fixed-wing aircraft he was sent to Ft. Wolters to learn to fly helicopters. In Germany he became the first army pilot to qualify for a helicopter instrument license. In 1963 he was a member of the army team who picked up Beech King Air planes at the factory in Wichita, Ks, and flew them across the Atlantic Ocean to Germany.
In Vietnam War he flew Beech Queen Air planes. When he returned to the USA he was assigned to Ft. Sheridan, once again as a pilot. His final Military duty was as commander of the ROTC unit at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, TX.
Following his retirement from the Army in 26 July 1972, Clark went to school to learn to work on automobiles, and after graduation from the auto mechanics course at Cisco Junior College he opened his own shop in Clyde to rebuild and repair transmissions.
Clark married Rosemary Tinkey in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, May 17, 1952 and together they raised four sons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Pauline Kreitler, brother David Kreitler, sister Deborah Campbell, and grandson Tanner Ray Kreitler.
He is survived by four sons and their wives; Matthew Kreitler and wife Mary, Douglas Kreitler and wife Katey, Bruce Kreitler and wife Caroline and Steven Kreitler and wife Tina. In addition he is survived by three grandsons, two granddaughters and one great-grandson.
The family requests that donations be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care in lieu of flowers.