Hershel Carmichael

Idaho Hershel R. Carmichael, loving husband, father, grandfather and all around good man, passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, at the VA hospital in Boise. He was born March 16, 1934 in Chattanooga, to Thomas and Naomi Carmichael. He was raised in Rossville, Ga., where he played football, basketball and baseball for the Rossville High School Bulldogs. After graduation, he joined the Air Force and began a career in communications. The Air Force eventually took Hershel to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he met the love of his life, Linda Belle Stidham. They were married March 16, 1960, and he enjoyed his new role of being a father to her two sons, David and Michael Howard. Linda gave birth to their only daughter, Tammy just eleven months later. Hershel served his country all over the world. He went to Viet Nam, and was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in the Tet Offensive, and later worked on the Apollo 11 moon mission while being stationed at Patrick AFB in Florida. He retired from the Air Force in 1973, and settled with his family in Boise, because the family had come to love Idaho during his time at Mountain Home AFB. He enjoyed a second career, working 30 years for the Veterans Administration in Boise, and he retired in 2004. When his precious wife, Linda, passed away Oct. 24, 2014, he told her he wouldnt be too far behind her, and asked her to walk slowly so he could catch up to her. Hershel was always a man of his word, and he joined his lovely wife much sooner than anyone expected after a brief battle with lung cancer. His parents, his brother, Edward Carmichael; and his son, David Howard; also preceded him in death. Surviving Hershel are his son, Michael (Debbie) Howard, of Nampa; daughter Tammy Carmichael (Burt) Anderson, of Boise; grandchildren, Joshua Howard, Kinsey Howard, Malinda Cantrell, Katie Anderson, Andrew Anderson, T. Charles Anderson, Samuel Anderson; and seven great-grandchildren. Hershel requested that donations be made to St Judes, in his memory. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel. Burial will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.summersfuneral.com. A viewing for family and friends will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel.