Dennis Slinkard

Dennis Harold Slinkard passed away in Springfield, Missouri, on February 6, 2011, his body and spirit letting go after battling Alzheimer�s and other maladies. He had lost his wife of 63 years, Charlotte Jean (Scott) Slinkard in November, 2009. Since that time, he has resided with family in Branson, Missouri. Dennis retired in 1996 after forty-plus years in broadcasting, first with Hirsch Broadcasting Corporation (KFVS-TV), then with AFLAC�s Broadcast Division. Dennis was with Oscar Hirsch in the first days of television in Cape Girardeau (1954). As Business Manager, Dennis shepherded KFVS through the construction of the broadcast tower (1960) near Trail of Tears State Park, which at the time was the tallest man-made structure in the world; the construction of Cape�s 13-story KFVS "skyscraper" at 310 Broadway (1968); and the sale of the television station to AFLAC (1979). Following that sale, he was hired by the Broadcast Division of AFLAC to serve as Chief Financial Officer. Dennis and Jean lived in Columbus, Georgia, AFLAC�s hometown, for eighteen years before returning to Cape in 1998 after his retirement. Dennis was born in Chaffee, Missouri, on November 21, 1924 to Autho and Alma Slinkard. Dennis served in the Army Air Corps during W.W. II as a signalman in the Army Airways Communications System in North Africa. He returned to Chaffee after the war and married Jean Scott, also of Chaffee. The G.I. Bill provided his B.S. education in Business Administration at S.E.M.O. State College. Following graduation, Dennis faced a career crossroads. There were opportunities in the booming Frisco Railroad, Little Ten Shoe Company, and the infant television industry. Dennis� choice of the new technology was certainly fortunate and gave him his lifelong career. Dennis is survived by his sister Dorothy Mae (Dorothy Rodgers of Dallas, Texas), two daughters, Kathryn Sue (Kathy Velvet, of Branson, Missouri) and Elizabeth Ann (Beth Gray, of Olive Branch, Mississippi), a son, Dennis Kerry (Kerry Slinkard, of Elkton, Maryland), nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Big band music was his hobby and great love. He played alto and tenor saxophone with numerous area bands including the Jerry Ford Orchestra and the Cape Municipal Band until health issues forced his resignation from performing in the early 60�s. Dennis was absorbed with his work throughout his career. While in Columbus, however, he became very active volunteering with House of Mercy (a homeless shelter), and Habitat for Humanity. It was House of Mercy�s "Mother Harris" who showed Dennis the value of a hug. His charitable work also brought him for the first time to Christian faith. After a lifetime of shutting down religious conversation by claiming to be a "Mohammedan" (conveniently gleaned from his service time in Morocco), Dennis was baptized at age 75. From then on, whether with grandkids, friends, or his church family, Dennis was "The Hugger". His final months were especially difficult for Dennis, who had relied for so much of his life on a sharp mind, as he lost more and more of his memory and his ability to communicate. Dennis was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church (1820 Perryville Road, Cape Girardeau) where friends are invited to visit with the family on Saturday, February 26, from 12-1:00 p.m. A Service of Celebration of Life for Dennis will follow at 1:00 with interment at Memorial Park in Cape. Full Military Rites will be provided by Missouri Honors Team. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make donations to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dennis� memory.

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Dennis Slinkard

February 6, 2011