Individual Details

Death

Howard Lee Furr, 97, of Salem, Oregon passed away Saturday, June 15, 2013 with his wife of almost 67 years by his side, at Capital Manor Retirement Community. A memorial service will be take place at First United Methodist Church, Salem. Interment will be at Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery, in Hickory Flat, Mississippi. Howard was born in Pontotoc County, Mississippi on October 31, 1915 to Vera Wilbanks and Caleb Henderson Furr. He grew up in Mississippi and Texas. A graduate of Bridgeport Texas High School in 1933, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps the following year and served until 1937. Howard attended Mississippi State University, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in June of 1941. During WWII, he served with the Combat Engineers from 1941 to 1946, serving in the United Kingdom, Africa, and Italy. He made three combat landings, including the D-Day landing on Utah Beach and saw service in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. For their efforts in the liberation of France, his Brigade was awarded the citation "Croix de Guerre avec Palme" by General Charles de Gaulle. After he returned to the United States in 1946, he married Lynne Whitehurst. He received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and a PhD degree from the University of Texas at Austin. His career was in Civil Engineering in universities in Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. He retired from Texas A&M as Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering in 1981. Survivors include his wife, Lynne; sons, David and wife Anne, and Laney, both of Salem, Ore., and Paul, of Portland, Ore.; and grandchildren, Sarah and Lucas. Contributions in Howard's memory may be made to the Marion-Polk Food Share, 1600 Salem Industrial Drive NE, Salem Oregon 97301. Arrangements are entrusted to Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.
Published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle from June 19 to June 20, 2013