Dennis Slinkard

Dennis Harold Slinkard, 86, passed away Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Springfield, Mo., his body and spirit letting go after battling Alzheimer's and other maladies.

He lost his wife of 63 years, Charlotte Jean Scott Slinkard, in November 2009. Since that time, he has resided with family in Branson, Mo.

Dennis retired in 1996 after more than 40 years in broadcasting, first with Hirsch Broadcasting Corp. (KFVS12), then with AFLAC's Broadcast Division.

He was with Oscar Hirsch in the first days of television in Cape Girardeau (1954). As business manager, Dennis shepherded KFVS12 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 Girardeau's 13-story KFVS12 "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, Ga., AFLAC's hometown, for 18 years before returning to Cape Girardeau in 1998 after his retirement.

Dennis was born Nov. 21, 1924, in Chaffee, Mo., to Autho and Alma Slinkard.

He served in the Army Air Corps during World War 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 education with a bachelor of science degree in business administration at Southeast Missouri State University.

Following graduation, Dennis faced a career crossroads. There were opportunities in the booming Frisco Railroad, Little Ten Shoe Co., and the infant television industry. His choice of the new technology was certainly fortunate and gave him his lifelong career.

Dennis is survived by a sister, Dorothy Mae Rodgers of Dallas; two daughters, Kathryn Sue "Kathy" Velvet of Branson, Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Gray of Olive Branch, Miss.; a son, Dennis Kerry Slinkard of Elkton, Md.; 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 1960s.

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.

He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1820 Perryville Road, Cape Girardeau, where friends are invited to visit with the family from noon to service time Saturday.

A service of celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau, with full military rites provided by the Missouri Honors Team.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make donations to Westminster Presbyterian Church in memory of Dennis.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.