Obituary of Jerry L. Hines

Jerry Lee Hines: Sept. 30, 1944 — June 16, 2023 Jerry Lee Hines was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 30, 1944 to Warner and Lucy Gorman Hines. He was raised in the same home on Lovera Street until he left for the Army.

As a child, Jerry was very athletic. He played baseball, tennis, and golf and he continued to play tennis and golf for much of his adult life. Jerry began to play the guitar while in Jr. High — a love he also carried into adulthood. When Jerry entered High School, he joined the Jr. ROTC program at Jefferson High School —inspired by his older brother Calvin. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to Colonel in his Senior year. He also excelled in academics and his excellent record resulted in a first alternate appointment to West Point by Senator John Tower. While he did not make it that year, Jerry was encouraged to join the Army and apply for the USMA Prep School. He was successful and after a year at the Prep School, Jerry entered West Point in the class of 1967.

It was during Christmas Eve of his Prep School year that he noticed a young woman he had known in Kindergarten but had not been interested in before. He was back in San Antonio on leave. She had grown up and when he heard her sing “Oh Holy Night” at the midnight service he nearly fell off the pew. They immediately started dating and sending letters back and forth. They became best friends and soul mates. Since Joyce had been a senior in high school, both Jerry and Joyce entered college at the same time. During Pleb Christmas at West Point (the last one held), Jerry ask Joyce Ann Chiles to wait for him and told her he wanted to marry her. She did. On June 8, 1967 in the Cadet Chapel at West Point, Jerry and Joyce became man and wife.

Numerous classmates remember Jerry playing his guitar during Beast Barracks and later playing in “Rasputin and the Chains”. Sadly, Joyce never saw him play in a band because whenever she was at West Point, he was dancing with her. Loving music as he did, Jerry joined the Cadet Glee Club. Twice the Glee Club sang on the Ed Sullivan Show, an experience which he remembered long after he left the Point. Jerry was one of the Texas boys who took up snow skiing while at West Point, a skill he enjoyed for a number of years to come.

Jerry’s first assignment was at Ft. Sill, OK Field Artillery School. After becoming a Ranger and a Paratrooper, he and Joyce headed for Munich, Germany. Next the Hines where sent to Augsburg, Germany where Joy Adair was born. Jerry was promoted to 1st Lt. and then to Capt. while in Germany and while he enjoyed the Field Artillery he decided he would like to fly helicopters.

Jerry entered flight training back in “the States” and excelled, being number 1 in his flight class. The next stop was Vietnam where he flew with the 120th Aviation Company “The Deans”. While in Vietnam, Jerry’s second daughter Janis Lea “Jan” was born in San Antonio where Joyce awaited his return.

Back in the USA, Jerry was assigned to Ft. Carson, Colorado in the Field Artillery and then back to Ft. Sill where he served in the Field Artillery before returning to Aviation with the 54th Aviation Staff. Jerry and Joyce were blessed with their third daughter, Julie Ann during their stay at Ft. Sill. While in the Army, Jerry received the following medals: National Service Defense Medal, Ranger TAB, Army Aviation Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device Air Medal 1-14, two Overseas Bars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Parachutist Badge. Jerry was Honorably Discharged on his birthday, Sept. 30, 1977.

The next year, Jerry entered the F.B.I. Academy. One of his classmates described him as a natural leader. Jerry’s first assignment was in Houston, TX and then on to Los Angeles, CA. Jerry served in the F.B.I. from 1978 –1998. One of his cases involved the Oklahoma City Bombing. While in the F.B.I. Jerry carried with him the motto and values of West Point — Duty, Honor, Country. He believed firmly in the principle that all men are equal under the law — not above or below and that personal opinions or politics should never interfere with an investigation.

After retirement from the F.B.I., Jerry and Joyce moved from Thousand Oaks, CA to Ft. Worth, TX where Jerry took up handbell playing, a hobby and passion he continued until health made it impossible. It was also at this time that they began to spend their summers at “Sumochi” the summer home they later inherited from Joyce’s parents outside of Pagosa Springs Co. In 2007, the Hines’ moved to Parker, CO. where Jerry spent his retirement years.

During this time, Jerry spent his time volunteering wherever he was need in the community, fishing, playing handbells in two Churches, and enjoying his family and friends.

Jerry graduated from his earthly life with flying colors in Parker, Colorado on June 16, 2023 after a valiant fight with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Joyce was at his side. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Joyce; three daughters: Joy Hines Forsmark (Jim), Janis “Jan” Hines Holland (Ryan), and Julie Hines Branch (Bill): Grandchildren: Shannon Holland, Brendan Holland, Madeline Branch, Jackson Branch, and Douglas Forsmark. Jerry is also survived by his brother Calvin Hines (Kay) and their children and grandchildren and many friends.

Jerry’s Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 9th, 2023 at the Parker United Methodist Church in Parker, Colorado. His ashes will placed next to his parents in Sun Set Memorial Park in San Antonio, TX.

Live stream link: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x02_kn6ODr0