Arenz, Terry Ralph, Lt Col USAF (RET), aka “Mr. Dundee”, born August 27, 1937, in Antioch, California to Arnold Henry Edmund and Midred Vivian Arenz, went to the arms of his Savior on March 19, 2022.
After World War II, his father was assigned to the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG) in South Korea, where the family joined him in 1948. The family was subsequently evacuated to Japan when the North Koreans attacked in 1950.
Terry attended schools in Antioch, California; Enterprise, Alabama; Esther, Missouri, and Santa Maria, California, graduating from high school in Neosho, Missouri, lettering in football, track, band, golf and baseball, and was a member of DeMolay. He was named to the football All American High School list by the Wigwam Wise Men in 1955. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1961 with a BS-ED, lettering in football and track, along with a commission in the US Air Force. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Arnold Air Society, the Letterman Club and the P.E. Majors Club. The AAU listed him second in the nation in the Decathlon in 1957.
He served in the Air Force with distinction throughout the world with assignments in Arizona, Mississippi, the Aleutian Islands, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Europe, Morocco, England, Hawaii, Taiwan, Korea and Texas. After serving as a pilot and a Communications/Electronics Staff Officer, he retired in 1982 at the rank of Lt. Colonel. Terry was a certified military parachutist, and avid participant in sports, scuba diving, both aerial and underwater photography and as a member of the Military Officers Association of America. He was a licensed pilot having many hours in civilian and military aircraft. He also managed the Bergstrom Aero Club and had several articles published over the years and won the short story contest for “The White Silk Scarf” in 2013.
Among Terry’s other varied interests, he played keyboards, guitar and sang the last several years with “The Onion Creek Ramblers”, an old country and gospel music band. His foray into musical groups began with an R&B band, “The Knights” in the 1950’s and “The Modern Folk Trio” during the late 1960’s.
Most recently, over the past 25 years, Terry was employed by the Hays CISD as a substitute teacher and school bus driver, where he was known as “Mr. Dundee”. Terry was well known for his sideline photography at area sporting events. He and his wife were founding members of Hays Hills Baptist Church, both teaching Sunday School for several years.
Terry is survived by his wife of 39 years, Debbie L. Arenz; daughters Terry Lynn and Melissa, son Steve; five grandchildren, as well as sister Dorothy Ann “Bunny” Arenz.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Harrell Funeral Home of Kyle, 1715 Kirby; with Funeral Services at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. His final resting place will be Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with committal service at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022.
