COL HAL G. ETTER, USAF (RET.) December 13, 1921 – October 13, 2022

Colonel Hal G. Etter, USAF (Ret.) of Helotes, Texas, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

He is survived by his wife Joyce Meek Etter; his nephew James Sanders Etter (Debra); his niece Lisa Etter Thompson (John) and several great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sisters, Lucille Etter Newman, Verna Etter Ager, and Jessie Etter and by his brothers John and Fred Etter.

A native of Rural Retreat, Virginia, he joined the US Army 99th Infantry Division at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi in 1941. He served in the European Theatre where he was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. He was a prisoner of war until WWII ended. He attained the rank of S/SGT and joined the US Army Reserve.

Colonel Etter attended Bluefield Business College, Centre College and graduated from the University of Kentucky where he received his BS and MS degrees. He was called back to active duty in 1951 during the Korean War. He joined the US Air Force as a commissioned 2nd Lt. During his Air Force career, he was stationed in Japan, France, Ohio, California, N.J., and Washington, D.C. He served as Director of the TriService Military Blood Program at the Pentagon responsible for sending whole blood for troops in Vietnam.

Hal and Joyce met and were married in Riverside, California in 1970. They enjoyed 52 years together. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Hal worked in real estate in Texas but finally decided golf was more fun. He played many of the courses in and around San Antonio with his golfing buddies. Their cruising adventures took Hal and Joyce to all seven continents of the world.

Hal enjoyed a good long life. He was a kind and caring man who had many friends.

Funeral Service will be held 12:00 Noon Monday, October 24, 2022 at the King's Grove United Methodist Church in Crockett, VA. with Pastor Hugh Matlock officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Military Rites being conducted by the USAF Honor Guard and the American Legion Post #229 of Rural Retreat. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon prior to the service.

Lindsey Funeral Home of Rural Retreat VA is handling the local arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.highlandfuneralservice.com