Obituary
Colonel Henry Bennett McNider, III, US Army Retired, Valrico, FL ended his long battle with gastric and aspiration pneumonia issues on March 14, 2024, at the age of 91. Having completed his service to his country and to his family, he passed on to his eternal rest surrounded by his loving family. A true American patriot, he lived his life with a strong love of God, country, and family.
Hank was born in Birmingham, Alabama on November 14, 1932, to Eleanor Pauline Newman-McNider and Henry Bennett McNider, Jr. He graduated from Auburn University, Auburn, AL before continuing his education in the Army, receiving his helicopter pilot training at Ft. Benning, GA and Ft. Rucker, AL. Hank earned his Master’s degree in Communications and Electronics attending further schooling at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and Kansas City, MO. He completed and graduated from the Army War College in 1976, while attending Shippensburg State College, PA. Hank’s Army career as a helicopter pilot involved numerous assignments including the US Army Aviation, Germany, Vietnam, and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation from the US Army War College, Hank trained troops at Ft. Lewis, WA for deployment, before his last assignment transfer in 1978 to CENTCOM, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL and served as Director of ROTC for the University of Tampa. He retired with the rank of Colonel in 1980.
In civilian life, Hank served as an independent consultant, the Director of the Brandon Co-op Laboratory for local physicians, and a substitute teacher for middle and high school at the Academy of Holy Names, Tampa, FL.
As a young boy, Hank enjoyed learning to cook with his grandmother and was a BBQ skill master, along with candy making. He was lovingly referred to as “the candy man”. Hank was a kind, generous man who loved all his family dearly. He and his wife, Nita, dedicated their later years to helping care for their granddaughter, Brittany, as she brought them such joy in life. They also loved their puppy dogs, poodle - Chico, and Bichon – Powder.
Hank is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Juanita Vintson-McNider; and survived by his daughter, Pamela Diann Fisher and son-in-law, William Clifford Fisher, Jr who lovingly cared for both Hank and Nita through their senior years; their granddaughter, Brittany Aleksandre Fisher-Longden, grandson-in-law, Jeremy David Longden, and fortunately having met his newly born (2-12-2024) great granddaughter, Elianna Anita Longden, and Havanese grand pup, Sandy Longden– all residing in Ashland, MA; and son, Alan Bradley McNider and partner Charita Raganas.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eleanor (Ellnor) Pauline Newman-McNider; his father, Henry Bennett McNider; and his sister, Ellnor Joane.
Burial with full military honors will take place graveside at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Tunnels to Towers or Wounded Warriors.