Howard "Gary" Nophsker, age 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at The Christopher House in Austin, TX after a long-time battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
He was born on March 19, 1938 in New Bethlehem, PA to Howard Nophsker and Dorothy Nophsker (later Roberson). In 1959, he began his military training through ROTC while he attended West Virginia University. He obtained his BS in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University in 1961 and his MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1973.
Gary joined the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1961. He became a fighter pilot and served tours in the United States, Europe, Vietnam, and Korea. He obtained countless hours of training and flew hundreds of combat missions with the USAF. He flew the F-100 from 1962 to 1969. He served 3 tours in the Vietnam War. He was greatly devoted to serving our country and, if it were up to him, would have spent the rest of his life flying "into the wild blue yonder." However, in 1989 after 28 years of service, Gary reluctantly retired with honors from the USAF as Lieutenant Colonel at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, TX.
After his retirement from the USAF, Gary went on to work for the Texas Education Agency in Austin, TX for 17 years. This career was not nearly as exciting for him as his service with the USAF. But then again, he was stuck in Austin traffic for the majority of the day. Supersonic speed in a fighter jet was not an option.
Gary was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a selfless and caring man who always put his family first. He enjoyed road trips with his wife, Kim, and spending time outdoors in their Hill Country home. He was a great problem-solver and enjoyed the challenge of any and all projects around the house. His friends meant a lot to him and he enjoyed keeping in touch with them through reunions and chats with his Misty, Super Sabre Society, QBs, and 613TFS.
He bravely and courageously fought for his life until the very end. Despite his pain and suffering, no one would have been able to tell what he was going through. He had a great poker face. He won his battle and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" and returned to dancing "the skies on laughter-silvered wings" (excerpt taken from "High Flight" by Pilot Officer Fillespie Magee.) Gary was guided to his Heavenly home with God as his co-pilot.
He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Kim Nophsker of Driftwood, TX; daughters Linda Canales (Angel Canales) of Connecticut, Debbie Burkholder (Tim Burkholder) of Georgia, Terri Kinsel of Florida, Dawn Nophsker Chen (Thomas Chen) of Texas, Vicki Holcombe (Blair Holcombe) of Texas, and sons Mike Nophsker of South Carolina and Tom Nophsker of South Carolina. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
He will be laid to rest in a small service with full military honors. A celebration of life for family and friends will be planned at a later date. Donations are gratefully accepted and can be made in Gary's memory to "The American Cancer Society."
Tributes
Dr. Kenneth H Humphrey wrote on Jul 1, 2020:
"Kim, Dawn, Vicki:
It\'s difficult to find the words to express just how sorrowful Sylvia and I feel at the passing of your husband, your father, and our beloved cousin Gary.
I have always had a great admiration and respect for my West Virginia cousins (Gary, and his younger brother Denny, too). Although Gary was only 2 or 3 years older than me, he always seemed to be older, and much wiser, too. His intellect and wisdom excelled, and he always \"wowed me\" whenever I was around him. His maturity and his intelligence were really excellent traits.
Little known fact: When Gary was an Air Force officer, and I was employed by the Department of Defense as an American school teacher at an Army base in Livorno, Italy, Gary and I \"hooked up\" briefly in the Fall of 1965 while he was on TDY at an USA Air Force base in Aviano, Italy. He had flown in for a TDY assignment, I learned about it from my Mom Ruby through Aunt Dordy, his mom, and I drove the hundred or so miles to meet him at the base. As I recall, it was only a brief encounter due to the fact that he was working, but we did enjoy the short time together.
I admired Gary for the devoted work he did in arranging for the celebration of his mom\'s 100th birthday in Kittanning PA a few years ago. That was a wonderful event and, to my knowledge, the last time I saw Gary. I remember wishing that we\'d had
more time together when we were there. Aunt Dordy was my favorite Aunt. Another little known fact: I lived with Aunt Dordy for 6 or 7 weeks during the summer of 1963 while I attended a summer session at West Virginia University. We had the greatest time together and really \"bonded\" during that time---a relationship that was strengthened and lasted the rest of her life. She fed me her famous concoction made in a gallon jar of her special \"pickles\" recipe... I love them and in most every Christmas card I sent to her from that time on I wrote, \"Send Pickles\"---it was something we joked about every time
we got to see each other from that time forward.
I will miss my Cousin Gary very much. We always had good talks when we were together. I\'m really sorry we never got to Texas to see him and Kim (and his daughters, too). He and Kim came to Colorado one time, many years ago, to look at some mountain
property they owned. I now really regret not being able to have returned the favor by going to visit them in Texas.
God rest his soul. Rest in peace, cousin Gary. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Kim (and your daughters Dawn and Vicki, too). Our deepest condolences... He will be forever remembered...
Dr. Kenneth H Humphrey and Sylvia C Humphrey
Greeley, Colorado
July 1, 2020"
Toni wrote on Jun 30, 2020:
"Our deepest sympathy to Gary\'s family. We knew Gary as a devoted husband to Kim and father to Dawn and Vicki. We have always been grateful that our daughters were friends of Vicki and Dawn because we knew our kids would be playing in a home that valued education and was loving and supportive. Gary\'s positive influence is strong in his family and friends\' families. It is a great legacy. "
Bill McDonald Colonel USAF retired wrote on Jun 26, 2020:
"My deepest condolences to the family. Gary was my 308TFS squadron mate at Tuy Hoa Vietnam where he was flying the F-100. He also flew as a Misty which was a tough dangerous mission but he loved it. We were in contact fairly often as he lived in my old hometown in Austin. Spent many a day there in my youth and we would talk about the expansion etc and he would update me like my sister who also lives there. Only a month ago I was talking to him and he NEVER did mention the cancer....typical fighter pilot. BUT MOST OF ALL HE WAS MY FRIEND AND I WILL MISS HIM!!"
Kathleen Phelan wrote on Jun 26, 2020:
"Linda, Angel and to the extended Family of Gary. You have my deepest sympathies at this very sad time. My thoughts and Prayers are with you at this time."