Merwyn Osborn "Jack" Huntress Jr. completed his earthly journey on November 17 at the age of 95. Jack was born June 24, 1925 in Oklahoma City to Merwyn and Hazel Huntress. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and saw action in the Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Belleau Wood. After the war, Jack entered the University of Oklahoma to pursue a degree in civil engineering. His college years included ROTC, junior varsity football, and fraternity life. And it was there he met Patricia Stath, who would become his wife in a marriage lasting 70 years. After college, Jack joined the Army and was on active duty during the Korean conflict. He continued his long association with the military by transitioning into the Army Corps of Engineers reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring from military service in 1985. Most of Jacks professional life was devoted to civil service as a plant engineer at the Federal Aviation Administrations sprawling Oklahoma City complex. In 1964, he was part of the FAAs supersonic flight tests, investigating the effects of "sonic booms" on homes and other ground structures. A keen student of history and a U.S. Civil War buff, Jack was also fascinated by genealogy, and over the years he worked to discover more of his family history. Jack also enjoyed golf, fishing, downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as stamp collecting. Together with wife Pat, he was a devoted member of Central Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, eventually serving as Elder Emeritus and Stated Clerk of the Indian Nations Presbytery. A fundamentally kind man with a gentle and wise disposition, Jack Huntress was always ready with a joke and a smile for those who knew him. He sometimes said, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." And while this old soldier did fade near the end of his long campaign, his memory will never die in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Jack was preceded in death by his father, Merwyn Sr., and his mother, Hazel. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughter, Sherri and her husband, Tom Tischler; son, Steve and his wife, Karen Kelley; sister, Marilyn Franklin; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As was his wish, Jack will be buried at Fort Sill National Cemetery, with a military committal service to be attended by immediate family members only. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, please consider making a donation to the Presbyterian Urban Mission in Oklahoma City or the Central Oklahoma Humane Society. Web addresses for the hyperlinks above: https://urbanmissionokc.org/ https://okhumane.org/ . Private Services