Ltc Richard Kost, Usa, Ret.

LTC Richard F. Kost, USA, Ret. (Dick) of Copperas Cove, Texas passed away Friday, May 10, 2019, at Advent Health Central Texas, in Killeen, Texas after a long battle with Dementia, Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson’s syndrome.

Funeral services will be held this Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 11 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, at 922 Lutheran Church Road, in Copperas Cove. Interment with full military honors will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Scott’s Funeral Home, in Copperas Cove.

Dick was an only child born on June 9, 1936, to Dr. Paul and Irma Kost, in Aspinwall, PA. He attended schools in the Pittsburgh, PA area, first attending Lutheran School in Sharpsburg and then attending school in Hampton Township, Allison Park. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry from Penn State University; his first years were spent at the Mont Alto Campus.

Richard retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving for more than 25 years. His time in honorable service of his country included two tours in Vietnam, during which he received a Bronze Star.

Richard Kost was a very kind and creative individual. He was an incredible builder and craftsman with a sense of humor. He built three houses in the Copperas Cove area as the owner of Kost Homes. He was ahead of his time in the field of energy efficiency and solar power. He was a very active member at Immanuel Lutheran Church and served as a Trustee. He worked on several projects at Immanuel Lutheran Church, including the cemetery and cross on the hill. He also maintained all of the church property and buildings.

Richard volunteered at Camp Lone Star and worked with Dr. Meissner in the building of a tiny house for Concordia Lutheran University’s Friesenhahn Cave near San Antonio. Richard had a passion for flying gliders and airplanes as a private pilot. He built and designed everything from parade floats for the church to privacy fences. He moved over 2,000 wheel barrel loads of dirt to build an in-ground swimming pool for his family. Dick also built a wooden pedal airplane for his grandchildren. He installed solar collectors on a friend’s roof and in the swimming pool deck to heat his hot tub. There was not much that he could not fix or build with his creative talents.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Turner Lambert.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy; daughters, Norra Kost-Lambert, Renatta Hedin and husband, Robert; two grandchildren, August and Adrianna Lambert.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church, at 922 Lutheran Church Road, Copperas Cove, Texas 76522 or a charity of your choice.