Fred Hinnenkamp

Fred Hinnenkamp took off for God”s heaven on February 21, 2010. He departed this earthly runway at the age of 89. Fred was born in Salina, Kan., to Anthony F. and Otillia Schwartz Hinnenkamp on Feb. 12, 1921.

He attended St. Joseph College and Military Academy in Hays, Kan., receiving his Army second lieutenant”s commission through the ROTC program. He started his fl

ying career under the Civilian Pilot Training program in 1940, and was Instrument and Commercial rated in 1941. He was a civilian flight instructor from 1941-1943 at Cuero, Texas, where he met the first true love of his life, Mary Alma Jackson. They married at Brook Army Airfield on Feb. 20, 1944.

Fred joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, and after training in San Antonio, Montana, Reno, Lubbock, and Nashville, was assigned in 1944 to the Air Transport Command – Central Africa Wing. He flew C46 transports. His time overseas in both the Central and North African Wings of the ATC were filled with enough adventures to fill a book. Upon returning to the States at the end of World War II, he and Mary Alma moved to Denver, Colo., where he first flew with Continental Airlines, and then went to work with Texaco in sales. Fred and Mary Alma started their family there. Fred worked for Texaco for eleven years, and before leaving that company was Zone Manager in North Platte, Neb.

In 1958, Fred purchased C&H Oil Company in Lockhart. He and his family operated this business until he sold it in 1979.

Fred was active in church and community affairs. He served as president of the Lockhart Chamber of Commerce, the Lockhart Kiwanis Club, and the Minor and Little Leagues of Lockhart. He was instrumental in bringing public, low income housing to Lockhart.

A devout Christian and Catholic, Fred was active in the St. Mary”s parish in Lockhart, and served as president of the Holy Society and Knights of Columbus.

Fred and his family were members of the Confederate Air Force. Fred took a very active role, and organized and constructed the Central Texas Wing”s hangar facility improvements in San Marcos.

An avid hunter, carpenter and storyteller, Fred”s life was one huge and amazing adventure. He had numerous deer leases over the years, and devoted much time to improving them with deer blinds of all shapes and sizes. He re-built a 1942 Willys Jeep to get around on them. When that vehicle wasn”t at a deer lease, it was used in parades and CAF functions. He introduced his family and friends to a host of folks we otherwise would never have been privileged to meet. Tex Hill, Sandy Sansing, Hank Potter – Jimmie Doolittle”s lead navigator on the raid over Tokyo, were all friends.

Fred was an avid aviator until well into his 80s. He owned and flew Cessnas and PT 17 Stearmans. His beloved Stump Jumper was a fixture over the Lockhart skies doing barrel rolls, loops and hammerheads.

Mary Alma passed away in 1986. In 1994, Fred met and married Dorothy Rossi, the second true love of his life. The two embarked on a 15-year odyssey of travel, hunting, fly-ins, camping, and relishing the gift of life together. Fred”s last 14 months were spent fighting heart disease, and then cancer. He fought an incredible fight, and his already awesome will to live was fueled in part by not wanting to leave Dorothy, and her own indomitable life force. The two were amazing.

Fred was a friend of Bill W. His sponsorship, tough love and guidance, and leadership of a local AA chapter helped many in his community to lead fulfilling and positive lives. The true numbers of those he helped in over 29 years of sobriety will never be known.

Fred and Mary Alma were the proud parents of four sons. His oldest son, Jerry, passed away in 1993. He is survived by sons John and wife, Debbie, Mark and wife, Lynda, and Mike. Their successes in life are in large part because of Fred”s powerful work ethic, and expectation of nothing but excellence in any task undertaken.

Fred is also survived by five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Holy Rosary was at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, at McCurdy Funeral Home. Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, at St. Mary”s Catholic Church in Lockhart. Pall bearers will be members of the CAF. Internment will be at the Lockhart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Fred”s memory to the American Cancer Society – Lockhart/Caldwell County Relay for Life.

Arrangements under the care and guidance of McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan, Lockhart, Texas, 78644. (512) 398-4791.