Howard Tefft

Col. Howard E. Tefft, USAF (Ret.) born June 13, 1933, died February 28, 2012 after a two year battle with lung cancer. He was the son of Eldred Virgil Tefft and Geneva Geraldine Lester Tefft, both deceased, of Parkersburg, West Virginia. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, OH and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Colonel Tefft was a 22 year veteran of the United States Air Force, rising from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to full Colonel at his retirement in 1979. He served in a variety of engineering positions in the Air Force including assignments in England, Canada, Taiwan the Philipines and a one year tour during the Vietnam War at Nacho Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. He was a distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College and a graduate of the Industrial College of the Operations and Maintenance, Engineering Directorate at Headquarters USAF in the Pentagon. He was awarded a Commendation Medal and The Legion of Merit for his achievements. After retirement from the Air Force, Colonel Tefft worked in a variety of engineering positions in West Virginia and Georgia. His position as Chief of Security for the Southeast Division of MCI Telecommunications provided many amusing stories of fraud prevention and detection. Colonel Tefft was a longtime member and Deacon at the Roswell First Baptist Church and an active worker in the Republican Party. He served on the Alpharetta Zoning Appeals Board and was a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans. Colonel Tefft is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Suzanne Sammons Tefft; sons, Howard E. Tefft, Jr. (Carol) of Cornelius, North Carolina, and Kirk E. Tefft of Valdosta, GA; step-children, W. Gage Barker, Jr. (Katherine) of Duluth, GA, Anne Sammons Barker Peacock (Earl) of Buford, GA; grandson, Howard E. Tefft, III; step-grandchildren, Sarah Anne Peacock, Laura Sammons Peacock, Rachel Louise Peacock Scott (Clay), Joshua Gage Barker, Madeline Marie Barker, Griffin Gage Barker, Chad Hess; great-grandson, Aaron Michael Tefft; step-granddaughter, Millie Anne Scott; sister, Judith Caroline Helfer (Fred) of Nashville, TN. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 11:00AM at Roswell First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Georgia National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lung Cancer or the Roswell First Baptist Church in his memory. The Tefft family will receive friends on Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Northside Chapel Funeral Directors, Roswell, GA. 770-645-1414. Wwwnorthsidechapel.com

Howard Tefft

June 13, 1933 - February 28, 2012