Alexander J. Stuart

Alexander James Stuart Jr. January 19, 1912 – September 2, 2009 Alexander James Stuart Jr. was born January 19, 1912 in Ft. Monroe, Virginia, to Flavia Hill Stuart of Orange, Texas and Alexander James Stuart of Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a military family. He graduated the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1934. He also earned an M.S. degree from M.I.T. When the US entered WWII, Col (then MAJ) Stuart landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. As the fighting moved into French farmland, the Allied tanks were being easily defeated by German anti-tank weapons carefully positioned in high hedgerows. Col Stuart, with his motor sergeant, successfully deployed the “hedgerow buster,” which allowed the Allies to progress through France. The war took Col Stuart to the Paris; Battle of the Bulge, Belgium; Germany; and Czechoslovakia. Alex married Miriam Vannaman in 1934. They had three children who survive him, Alexander III, Douglas, and Susan. His career took him and his family to many places, including Panama, Turkey, and Korea. While in Korea, he became committed to projects aimed at improving society. When he returned to the U.S., he worked tirelessly on national issues, including reduction of teenage pregnancy rates and suicide prevention. He earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from UTEP, and a teaching certificate. His desire was to teach remedial math at the junior high level. He taught at both Austin High School and Radford School. Col. Stuart was stationed in El Paso in 1955. He retired from the military in 1962 and continued living in El Paso. For the last thirty years, Col. Stuart has been dedicated to the study of the development character. He designed the pilot program for Character Education currently being delivered in the El Paso County Probation system. He is also survived by his children, six grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Services for Col. Stuart include visitation from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, September 7, 2009 at Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass. Graveside Service at 9:00 am on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with full Military Honors. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 am at Faith Methodist Church, 7500 Pershing Drive. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.