Funeral services for Major General (retired) Stewart Meyer of Harker Heights will be held Friday, January 4, 2013 at 12:30 pm at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Killeen with burial to follow at 3:00 pm at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be Thursday, January 3, 2013 from 5-7 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.
Major General (retired) Stewart Meyer joined his Lord on 31 December, 2012 at Metroplex Hospital. He led a full, rich, and heroic life. He served God, the Nation, his family, and his community with honor and energy. He earned the respect and love of all who met him.
Stew was born in El Paso Texas on 14 April 1921, son of an Army Brigadier General who fought with Pershing along the Mexican Border. General Meyer graduated from the United States Military Academy in the war-shortened Class of 1943 in January 1943 and soon deployed with the 3rd Armored Division to the European Theater of Operations.
In service to the Nation, he served in combat in three wars, World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam, earning the Silver Star for Gallantry, Purple Heart for wounds, five Bronze Stars, and numerous other awards. In WWII, he led men in combat across France and into Germany. Among his most traumatic experiences, he once said, was rescuing the prisoners in a Nazi death camp. It still brought tears to his eyes more than 60 years later. In his career of 36 years, he also served in the Pentagon, and as Commander of the Operational Test Command at West Fort Hood. His final assignment was as Commander of the Ballistic Missile Defense Command.
After his retirement, Stew served as a community leader in many organizations. He was Mayor of the City of Harker Heights from 1993-1997 when he was the catalyst for modernizing the City. He was Senior Warden of St. Christopher’s Church, President of the Kiwanis Club, Vice President of the Central Texas College Foundation, Chairman of the Fort Hood Retiree Council from 1984-2001, and a member of the Rotary Clubs of Harker Heights and Killeen Heights. He was particularly proud of organizing the Get-Out-the-Vote Committee in 1986, encouraging citizens to get involved in their communities. In recent years, General Meyer also enjoyed presiding over the Annual Founder’s Day Banquet of the West Point Society as the “Oldest Grad.”
General Meyer’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, The Silver Star, The Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with V device, and five Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal (16 Awards), Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, The Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal with 5 Campaign Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Viet Nam Campaign Medal, Senior Parachutist Badge, Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Office of the Secretary of Defense Identity badge, General Staff Identity Badge. His wartime combat campaigns included Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, Viet Nam Counter Offensive Phases II, III, VII, TET Counteroffensive 1969, Sanctuary Counteroffensive.
Stew Meyer was a man of deep religious beliefs and ironclad integrity. He was a strong believer in his Christian faith and in the ultimate power of prayer.
Survivors include Mari, his beloved wife of almost 33 years; three daughters, Ann Parker and husband Jerome of NC, Margaret Surdyk and husband Thomas of VA, Catherine Meyer-Seligman and husband Steven of CT; three stepsons, Luis Jac Morton and wife Janiva of TX, Parker Meyer and wife Deanna of FL and John Morton of TX and a stepdaughter, Leslie Green and husband Brady of TX.
Words of comfort may be left for the family at www.crawfordbowersfuneralhome.com
Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Killeen is in charge of arrangements.
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