Delbert Ray Humeston
December 4, 1927 — June 27, 2024
Delbert Ray Humeston passed away June 27, 2024, at West Ridge Specialty Care and woke up in the arms of Jesus shortly after.
Del was born December 4th, 1927 in Union, IA to Roy and Maude (Hess) Humeston.
As a boy, Del would often visit his grandmother who lived near Fort Des Moines where he enjoyed watching the soldiers drill, getting ready to ship off to war. Near the fort was the Fort Des Moines Open Bible Church where he attended services with his grandmother and also where he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Del graduated from Union High School in 1945 and quickly enlisted into the US Army where he served in Inchon and Seoul, South Korea as an MP at the tail end of WWII. He used his GI Bill to go on to college at Upper Iowa University where he met Jane Riley. They were lifeguards together. They married June 29, 1952, in New Hampton, Iowa. Together, they moved around a bit. The lovely couple were married 64 years until Jane’s passing on February 10, 2017. While moving and changing careers, the two had four sons; Ronald, Riley, Daniel, and Michael. All remarkable sons and well loved by their parents. Del was very proud of each one of them.
For a time, Del taught school and was a coach. He then went to work for the VA Hospitals. He finally landed in the Knoxville VA in 1962, where he continued to work until his retirement as Chief of Kinesis in 1990. It was during this time that he made many lifelong friends and some were a part of his life for just a short time. He met so many people, from patients to co-workers, and cherished and valued each and everyone showing his light with whomever he came in contact with.
Del and Jane were members of the Knoxville Methodist Church and raised their sons in the church, keeping faith a big part of their lives.
I imagine Del thought he would never have grandchildren. Then, finally, in 1988, they started arriving; six grandsons, two granddaughters, two step grandchildren, four great-granddaughters, one great-grandson, and a step great-grandson and daughter.
Del was preceded in death by his wife Jane, and son Riley, as well as his parents Roy and Maude, sister Maybelle Brown, brothers Herbert and Paul, also his daughter-in-law Marlys Anderson. He is survived by three of his sons; Ron Humeston, Dan (Rhonda) Humeston, Mike (Anna) Humeston, and all those grands, as well as a few nieces and nephews.
Del was a modest, loving, generous, and kind man. We will always hold a place in our hearts for him and cherish the fact that we know we will see him again someday. Until we meet again.
A memorial in Del’s memory can be made to Freedom for Youth – Knoxville where children can hear the gospel and share in the love of Christ that provided Del with comfort and guidance all of his years.
Del was born December 4th, 1927 in Union, IA to Roy and Maude (Hess) Humeston.
As a boy, Del would often visit his grandmother who lived near Fort Des Moines where he enjoyed watching the soldiers drill, getting ready to ship off to war. Near the fort was the Fort Des Moines Open Bible Church where he attended services with his grandmother and also where he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Del graduated from Union High School in 1945 and quickly enlisted into the US Army where he served in Inchon and Seoul, South Korea as an MP at the tail end of WWII. He used his GI Bill to go on to college at Upper Iowa University where he met Jane Riley. They were lifeguards together. They married June 29, 1952, in New Hampton, Iowa. Together, they moved around a bit. The lovely couple were married 64 years until Jane’s passing on February 10, 2017. While moving and changing careers, the two had four sons; Ronald, Riley, Daniel, and Michael. All remarkable sons and well loved by their parents. Del was very proud of each one of them.
For a time, Del taught school and was a coach. He then went to work for the VA Hospitals. He finally landed in the Knoxville VA in 1962, where he continued to work until his retirement as Chief of Kinesis in 1990. It was during this time that he made many lifelong friends and some were a part of his life for just a short time. He met so many people, from patients to co-workers, and cherished and valued each and everyone showing his light with whomever he came in contact with.
Del and Jane were members of the Knoxville Methodist Church and raised their sons in the church, keeping faith a big part of their lives.
I imagine Del thought he would never have grandchildren. Then, finally, in 1988, they started arriving; six grandsons, two granddaughters, two step grandchildren, four great-granddaughters, one great-grandson, and a step great-grandson and daughter.
Del was preceded in death by his wife Jane, and son Riley, as well as his parents Roy and Maude, sister Maybelle Brown, brothers Herbert and Paul, also his daughter-in-law Marlys Anderson. He is survived by three of his sons; Ron Humeston, Dan (Rhonda) Humeston, Mike (Anna) Humeston, and all those grands, as well as a few nieces and nephews.
Del was a modest, loving, generous, and kind man. We will always hold a place in our hearts for him and cherish the fact that we know we will see him again someday. Until we meet again.
A memorial in Del’s memory can be made to Freedom for Youth – Knoxville where children can hear the gospel and share in the love of Christ that provided Del with comfort and guidance all of his years.
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