Herman Paul Meiners Jr.

Colonel (retired) Herman Paul Meiners Jr., 86, of Englewood, Colorado died Monday 4/6/2020, at Brookdale Meridian Englewood SNF.

Born on July 29, 1933 in Hartford, Connecticut. He lived in New York City until his father moved to Dallas, Texas where he attended high school. In May 1955, he graduated from Texas A & M University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and an AFROTC commission in the United States Air Force. Paul entered the Air Force on active duty in August 1955 and graduated from pilot training in September 1955. From October 1956 to April 1957 he attended navigator training for pilots, where he received his navigator bombardier rating. Upon completion he was assigned to Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio and served on a select B-47 Stratojet combat crew until 1962.

On September 5, 1955 he married Shirley Ann Ferrell in Dallas. In September 1962 he returned to Texas A & M and earned his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering graduating in July 1964. He then served in the Aerodynamic Weapon Systems Directorate at the Foreign Technology Division at Wright Patterson AFB Ohio. In 1968 he was assigned to the 56th Air Commando Wing in Nakon Phanom Thailand. Following his tour in Southeast Asia he was transferred to the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) at Norton AFB in San Bernardino, CA. He subsequently served as Commander with the Site Alteration Task Force (SATAF) at FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming and then Grand Forks AFB in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In June 1977 he was reassigned to Andrews AFB Washington D.C., to the Office of the Inspector General. July 1979 he was transferred to the Ballistic Missile Office (BMO) at Norton AFBN as director of Acquisition Management Support until his reassignment as Chief of Staff. Upon his retirement from the USAF he accepted a position as engineer with Martin Marietta in Littleton Colorado where he served for several years until he retired.

Colonel Meiners was a Master Missleman, holds the aeronautical ratings of Navigator and Command Pilot and has over 3,300 flying hours. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with a Palm.

Survivors include his wife Barbara (Roepke) Meiners of Clarksville, Tennessee, his son Ronald Paul (Maria) Meiners of Mentone, CA, daughter Shari Lynn Ford of Littleton, CO, grandchildren Austin (Kate) Meiners of Redlands, CA, Paul Ford of Littleton, CO, Veronica Meiners of Mentone, CA, and Clayton Meiners of Mentone, CA. He is predeceased by his wife Shirley Ann (Ferrell) Meiners (September 27, 1934-July 17, 2001).

Services are scheduled for Monday, April 20 at 1:00 pm at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd. Centennial, Co 80121.

Herman Paul Meiners Jr.

Respect, admiration and much love. We miss you.