HOWARD BATES DYER

COL. HOWARD BATES DYER Col. Howard Bates Dyer, U.S. Army (Ret.), whose lifelong service to his country and community reflected discipline, intellect, and quiet strength, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at his home in Leavenworth. He was 90. A man of duty and principle, Col. Dyer's career spanned continents and decades, from missile ranges in the Marshall Islands to classrooms at Fort Leavenworth, and later, the small businesses that helped build his adopted hometown. To those who knew him best, he was defined not only by his rank or title but also by his consistency, humility, and purpose. Early life and education: Howard Bates Dyer was born Dec. 17, 1934, in Boonville, Mo., the son of Howard A. and Ida Frances (Bates) Dyer. He grew up with a strong sense of family and friendship in the close-knit river town, graduating from Laura Speed Elliott High School in 1952. He attended Kemper Military School and Junior College in Boonville, where he graduated with honors in 1954, earning an associate degree in general engineering. Two years later, he completed his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he also received his ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Military service and leadership: Col. Dyer began active duty in January 1957 at Fort Sill, Okla., embarking on a distinguished 22-year military career in air defense, missile systems testing, logistics, and education. Early postings took him from Fort Bliss, Texas, to White Sands Missile Range and the Pacific test site at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, where he participated in some of the earliest successful intercepts of intercontinental ballistic missiles during the height of Cold War research and development. He later served as chief of the Nike Systems Test Branch and as the Army's liaison at Vandenberg Air Force Base, where he worked with contractors and test officers on advanced defense programs. In 1967, Col. Dyer deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a missile officer and deputy chief of the Ammunition Division for the U.S. Army Vietnam. Stateside, he continued in leadership and technical roles, including assignments with McDonnell-Douglas and the Army's Safeguard missile defense program. He earned a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1971 and was selected to the Army's Research and Development Special Career Program. Later, he commanded the U.S. Army Maintenance Plant in Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany, overseeing more than 1,000 employees and complex international logistics. Following that command, he joined the faculty at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, where he authored and taught graduate-level logistics courses and eventually served as department director. He retired from active duty in 1979 with the rank of Colonel. During his California assignment, Col. Dyer played a leading role in organizing the 1972 U.S. Army Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel an event celebrating the Army's 197th birthday and Flag Day. The black-tie gala drew military dignitaries, Hollywood entertainers, and civic leaders alike. Working with General of the Army Omar N. Bradley, Governor Ronald Reagan, and host Ray Bolger, he helped shape one of the most memorable Army Balls of its era, ensuring every detail ran with precision. It was the kind of event that reflected his hallmark blend of discipline, diplomacy, and showmanship. Among his decorations were the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Army Commendation Medal, and several campaign and service medals. After retiring from Fort Leavenworth, Col. Dyer remained an active presence on post. His real estate and development experience proved valuable when his expertise was sought for several renovation and improvement projects at the fort. He also stayed connected to the officers' community through a veterans' group affectionately known as the "Old Bastards," where he enjoyed the fellowship and good humor that came with lifelong service. Second career in business: Retirement from the Army marked a new beginning. Settling in Leavenworth, Col. Dyer transitioned into the private sector as vice president of Xavier Custom Homes, a residential and light commercial construction company. With a family-first focus, his leadership helped the firm establish itself as a trusted name in local building and development. Before stepping away from construction, he began what would become a third career as a senior tax advisor for H&R Block, a position he held for decades. Many clients became friends, returning year after year not just for tax guidance but for the calm counsel and steady conversation that came with it. He also developed two commercial buildings in Leavenworth that remain home to Sherwin-Williams and H&R Block, a quiet testament to his vision and commitment to the community. Public service and advocacy: Col. Dyer believed that public service never truly ends. In addition to his professional work, he served as an ombudsman for the state of Kansas, advocating for residents navigating complex systems with the same patience and clarity that defined his years of teaching. He remained active in civic, fraternal, and veterans' organizations and continued to mentor younger professionals and former students long after his formal retirement. His life philosophy, "The road to success is always under construction," was both a lesson and a reflection of his character: always learning, always improving, always steady. 'I'll show you the world' Col. Dyer married Janice (Reed) Dyer on July 5, 1957, in Tulsa, Okla. They first met and dated while Bates attended the University of Missouri and Jan attended Stephens College. The two shared more than six decades before her passing. Their marriage was marked by partnership, purpose, and devotion to family. They traveled widely, across all 50 states and abroad, collecting memories, antiques, quilts, and friendships along the way. In every new post and home, Jan created warmth and welcome, complementing his precision with her creativity. As a military wife and later a business partner, Jan helped build a family life that was both resilient and adventurous. Her legacy as a master quilter, artist, and organizer mirrored his steady leadership. Together, they raised three sons before becoming actively involved in their grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's lives. Friendships for the ages: Col. Dyer was blessed to have shared many memories and wonderful stories with his lifelong friends Ben Robinson and Dick Blanck. Robinson, a former Oklahoma state senator and banker, and Col. Dyer grew up together in Boonville. The two forged a friendship that spanned more than eight decades. Though distance separated them in later years, they spoke by phone every Sunday, in conversations that always began the same way: "Hello, Colonel." "Senator!" Robinson was able to visit shortly before Col. Dyer's passing. Blanck, a retired lawyer, and Col. Dyer also grew up together in Boonville. Both families lived on the same street. Their friendship began when they attended kindergarten at Central Elementary. They shared a very colorful adolescence. Later in life, the two friends often met, along with their wives, to share a meal and spend the night at the theater. Both friends survive. A final chapter of grace and strength: In his later years, Col. Dyer faced new challenges with the same determination that had defined his life. After contracting COVID-19, he spent more than a month hospitalized and returned home determined to regain his strength. With the support of dedicated nurses and physical therapists from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leavenworth, along with in-home care specialists and his devoted family, including a grandson who helped coordinate his in-home care, he worked tirelessly through months of rehabilitation. Over the following years, Col. Dyer continued to receive excellent in-home support from the compassionate professionals at Crittendon Home Care, whose team became a trusted presence in his daily life. In his final season, his "A Team" of caregivers (his Angels) remained by his side, providing comfort, compassion, and dignity until the end. It was a complete family effort, near and far, to ensure that he could remain at home, surrounded by familiar walls, cherished memories, and the deep peace that comes from a life fully lived and lovingly cared for. His close network of friends also played a crucial role in supporting him during those final years. 'M-I-Z ...' Away from work and service, Col. Dyer was a devoted sports fan who followed his teams with the same loyalty he gave to everything in life. He played college basketball, football, and golf, which became a lifelong passion. A proud Mizzou alumnus, he was a dedicated fan of the Tigers, along with the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. In a fitting bit of poetic timing, all three of his favorite teams sent him out a winner before his passing. He is survived by three sons Howard Reed Dyer of Carthage, Mo.; Richard Alan Dyer of Edmond, Okla.; and Frank Randall Dyer (Cori) of Wildwood, Mo.; grandchildren Cody Dyer of Leavenworth, Kan.; Dayne Dyer (Kate) of Billings, Mont.; Cameron Dyer (Laura) of Kirkwood, Mo.; and Clayton Dyer (Kawtar) of Geneva, Switzerland; five great-grandchildren Henry Bates, Robert Brooks, Sophia Marguerite, Theodore Grant, and Archer Bennett; sister-in-law Jere Hill of Chapel Hill, Texas; nieces Amber Moodie-Dyer (Joseph Smith) of Fleetwood, N.C., and Dallas Pollard (Brad) of Cypress, Texas; and numerous friends and tax clients. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Robert Lee Dyer and William Alan Dyer; and his grandparents, Col. A.B. (Martha) Bates and Clausin (Cora) Dyer. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 62 years in 2019. Cremation is planned. A celebration of life will be held at the home at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Neptune Society.