Keith Honaker

HONAKER, LT. COLONEL KEITH JEWEL, Courageous Soldier, our beloved husband, dad, son, and brother, left our lives on May 27, 2012. Keith, who was a long-time resident of Knoxville, was 94 years old and leaves his most cherished wife of 75 years, Wilma Agnes Guthrie Honaker and their children, Errol Honaker, John Honaker, Cathy Morton, Sandra Rogers, and Jeffery Honaker, daughters- and son-in-law Harriet Honaker, Linda Honaker, and Ben Morton. Keith was the beloved son of Leondas Rosser Honaker and mother, Ernie Thomas Honaker. Keith treasured his grandchildren as the love his life: Wrenn Chais, Mike Honaker, Laura Lane, Leigh Cosgrove, Bryanna Britt, Jordan Rogers, Benjamin Morton, and Allison Morton, and great-grandchildren, Carson and Peyton Lane, Madeline, Chloe, and Jonny Chais, Jake, Kelsey, and Sophia Cosgrove, and Lindsay, Emily, and Haley Honaker Keith was dedicated to the service of his country in the U.S. Military for twenty-seven years. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and was a respected military leader by all the men and women with whom he served. Among his military assignments were the 158th Regimental Combat Team, "The Bushmasters", which served during War War II in New Guinea and Arawa, New Britain which was cited by General Douglas McArthur as one of the best infantry combat units in the army. During his service in Arawa, New Britain, Keith served as an escort for John Wayne in a frontline maneuver. Keith also served as an airborne paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and 11th Airborne Division. He was a company and battalion commander in these airborne units. Keith served in campaigns in the Pacific theater for three and a half years. In Indochina, with the Military Assistance Advisory Group, MAAG, he served as a liaison to the French military in the use of u.s. military weapons between 1951 and 1954. As reported by a French military officer, Keith was thought to have fired the first U.S. military weapon against the Communist Viet Minh. He then served a tour of duty in Germany with the 24th Infantry Division in defense against the Russian threat. He returned to the u.s. and finished his military career at East Tennessee State College as a military science instructor, as well as the rifle team coach. As an infantry officer, Keith led a team to destroy a tank behind enemy lines and was awarded the Bronze Star for this act; his medal was presented recently by the honorable U.S. Congressman Jimmy Duncan. At the ceremony, Wilma was awarded an Army medal for her service to our country. Keith received numerous other awards including the U.S. Airborne badge and the U.S. Combat Infantryman badge. After his retirement, Keith continued his professional career as the Director of Urban Renewal and Community Development in Johnson City, Elizabethton, and Knoxville. Keith was a dedicated lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and served faithfully in any calling asked of him by the church. He and Wilma were the first managers of the LDS church food storehouse, and Keith was genealogy director and employment assistant. He and his wife also served at the Mormon temple in Atlanta. Keith also authored four books. Keith wished for his family and friends to know that he loved them and if anyone asked how he wanted to remembered he said, "I want to be remembered as a soldier, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, a loving son and brother, and a faithful Mormon." . Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Keith's life at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2012, at West Hills Branch, LDS Church, 400 Kendall Rd. Knoxville, Tennessee 37919, (corner of Kendall Road and Gleason). Interment service will follow, with Full Military Honors presented by The Tennessee Army National Guard, at the Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 2200 E. Governor John Sevier Hwy., Knoxville 37920 Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com. The family will receive friends 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

Tributes

Keith Honaker

May 27, 2012