Obituary of Henry Mixon

Lt. Col. Henry H. Mixon, Sr. Ret. BLYTHEWOOD:A memorial service for Lt. Colonel Henry Howard Mixon, Ret. will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 5, 2011, at Sandy Level Baptist Church in Blythewood. Reverend Dr. Ben Newman and Reverend Jack Poole will officiate. Colonel Mixon, loving Father and Grandfather, strong and compassionate friend to everyone he met, lived a full and dynamic life. Born in Wagner, SC in 1925 to the late William Thomas Mixon and Francis Folson Martin Mixon and raised in Giddy Swamp, Lt. Col. Mixon served in the U.S. Army for 26 years. He served in an Airborne Infantry Unit in Europe during World War II. When WWII came to an end, he was chosen to select, train and oversee the U.S. Army Honor Guard during the war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany. During this time, Lt. Col. Mixon (with the help of friends and a famous jeep) met the love of his life, Katherene, who soon became his wife. Lt. Col Mixon and Kay were happily married for 59 years, Kay passed away in 2006. Lt. Col. Mixon served in the North American Air Defense in Colorado, and as the Inspector General in Alaska, Thailand and Vietnam. He also served as an adviser to the Saudi Arabian Army. One of his favorite accomplishments was Captain of the U.S. Army European Football Team; "Hammering Hank" led his team to winning 3 European Championships. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1969. An active land developer, Lt. Col. Mixon moved to Blythewood in 1984. His beautiful gardens, ponds, fountains and flowers that can be seen today are a far cry from the original swampy woods where Lt. Col. Mixon brought his wife. The wilderness caused her to exclaim, "Why are we stopping here?" Lt. Col. Mixon replied, "This is home." Lt. Col. Henry and Kay Mixon raised 8 children; sons, Henry Mixon II (Karen), David Mixon (deceased), and James Mixon (Heike); daughters, Susan Frederick (Joe), Linda Richardson, Alice Mixon, Donna Broach, and Athena Borer (Brent). Lt. Col. Mixon leaves behind 16 grandchildren including L.A. Mosley, Jr. (deceased), 14 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Lt. Col. Mixon is survived by sisters, Anna Epps, Mildred Woods, Edna Mixon and Marilee Bradley. He is also survived by his brother, William Mixon. Pallbearers to assist for the memorial service will be James Mixon II, Justin Mixon, Andrea Mixon, Tripp Mixon, Jonathan Mixon, Rick Bradley, and Ren Bradley. Honorary Pallbearers are the Prime Timers from Sandy Level Baptist Church. Lt. Col. Mixon was a member at Sandy Level. The family will receive visitors Friday, March 4, 2011, from 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia. Memorials may be made to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, 200 Stovall St., Ste. 6N07, Alexandria, VA 22332-0400; or to Sandy Level Baptist Church, 408 Blythewood Rd., Blythewood, SC 29016. The family would like to thank Senior Primary Care, Dr. Margaret Matthews, the Heart Center at Richland Health South, Dr. Donald Alexander, and Palmetto Richland Hospice. Lt. Col. Mixon also leaves behind many people who deeply love him; who will remember his loyalty to his Country and fierce devotion to his family. Family and friends may sign the on-line guest book at: (www.thompsonsfuneral.com)