True Edwin Cousins

True Edwin Cousins

True Edwin Cousins was born December 13, 1933 in Grant City, Mo., to J. Ray Cousins and Laura Kathryn Hamilton Cousins. His life on earth ended Oct. 3, 2016 after a brief illness.

True earned an aeronautical engineer's degree in 1958 from Kansas University. He spent 20 years working in the space industry having worked on the F-4 military plane, Mercury Capsule, Gemini, and Bell helicopter along with many other airplanes and space vehicles. He was also a mechanic and owned and operated The Kaferhaus (foreign car parts and service) in Seabrook before moving to Huntsville in 1977. He worked on foreign cars in Huntsville before becoming the associate director of the physical plant at Sam Houston State University and later at M. D. Anderson Cancer Research Center at Bastrop and Smithville. He was a registered professional engineer of Texas and after retiring he operated Central Texas Consulting, an engineering consulting firm, doing structural inspections, foundations and many other jobs requiring a structural engineer. He was a member of TAPPA (Texas Association of Physical Plant Administrators) and SEAoT (Structural Engineers Association of Texas) and attended their conferences annually. In his younger years his hobby was building (not from a kit!) and flying free flight model airplanes and entering and winning contests with them. He ran track in high school and college. He was a charter member of Seven Hills Running Club and ran many 5Ks and 10Ks in Huntsville and surrounding communities. He also enjoyed hunting and being outdoors. There really wasn't much he couldn't do or didn't enjoy.

True was preceded in death by his daughter, Cynthia Mills; his parents, Ray and Laura Cousins; four sisters, Frances Shearer, Kathryn Donius, Helen Seat and Nellie Hensley; one brother, J. R. Cousins; five nephews; two nieces; and one great granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife of 62 and a half years, Esther Engle Cousins; four daughters, Trudie Fetterman and husband Jim; Janice Crooks and special friend Joel Robinson; Brenda Bricker; Lorna Horstman and husband Steve; one son, Doyle Cousins and wife Nanci; and son-in-law Mark Mills; grandchildren, Heather Trevino and husband Paul; Hilary Dunn and husband Jeff; Hayley Scott and husband Sylvester; Louie Mills and wife Amanda; Tammy Mills; Amy Southerland and husband Gary; Dena Conn; Erin Cogburn and husband Jon; Emily Lambert and husband Jeff; Kylie Cousins; Keanu Cousins; Alyx Cousins; Ashley Etheredge and husband Stephen; and Danny Horstman; great-grandchildren Jayce, Kaden and Breslyn Trevino; Allie and Olivia Dunn; Isaiah, Zarek and Harrison Scott; Brodie and Amelia Mills; Garrett Southerland; Ava, Ethan and Owen Conn; Noah and Wyatt Cogburn; Jett and soon-to-be Mia Lambert; and Colton Etheredge.

Services for Mr. Cousins, will be Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 at 3 p.m. at the Huntsville Church of Christ, Huntsville, Texas. Visitation for family and friends will be Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Scleraderma Foundation.

Memorial condolences made to the family at www.shmfh.com.