Bert Lowell Lennon

After a courageous battle against Leukemia, Colonel, US Army (retired) Bert Lowell Lennon of Carlisle, PA passed away on March 11, 2026.. He was the second son born to the late DeWitt and Louise (Chapman) Lennon in Clarksville, Texas on February 7, 1948.

Bert enjoyed his early years growing up on a small cattle ranch in eastern Red River County, Texas. He enjoyed his elementary and high school years in the Avery School district and graduated in 1966. His senior year was a banner year for Bert. In the summer between his junior and senior year, Bert was selected by the local American Legion post to attend Boys State at the University of Texas in Austin, TX. Bert ran a successful campaign and was elected to the position of state Railroad Commissioner. When the senior year began, Bert was elected senior class president, president of the honor society, president of the local Methodist Church Youth Fellowship group and captain of the varsity basketball team. He also had the distinction of winning an individual first place medal for expository writing in the Ready Writing event of the University Interscholastic League Academic Meet State Championships held at the University of Texas in Austin, TX in the spring of 1966. After graduation, Bert then attended Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas for one year until he received a competitive congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY from the Honorable Wright Patman of the 1st Congressional District of Texas.

Upon graduation from West Point in 1971, Cadet Lennon was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He then reported to Ft. Benning, GA where he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne and Ranger Schools. After completion of these schools, Bert reported to Ft Hood, TX where he served his first tour as an infantry platoon leader in a mechanized infantry battalion within the 2nd Armored Division. While in this assignment, Bert applied for and was accepted into Army flight training. Bert completed his primary helicopter training at Ft Wolters, TX and then proceeded to Ft Rucker, AL for advanced tactical and instrument flight training. Upon graduation from the US Army Rotary Wing Flight School, Lieutenant Lennon was assigned his first aviation tour of duty as a flight leader in an assault helicopter company assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. From here forward, Bert’s military career consisted of a variety of command and staff positions within Infantry, Armor and Aviation organizations located in the United States and Germany. After this assignment, Bert was assigned as a student to the Infantry Officer Advance Course at Ft. Benning, GA where he met and married Columbus, GA native, Carol Elkins. Bert and Carol were married in the Infantry Center Chapel by the Airborne School Chaplain in 1978. Army assignments sent Bert and Carol to a variety of postings in Texas, Kentucky, Kansas, Virginia, New Mexico, Alabama, Pennsylvania and two locations in Germany. Bert also obtained further advanced military education at the US Army Command and Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. He later expanded his civilian education by earning a Master of Science Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. Bert’s two final tours were teaching assignments where he served on the staff and faculty of the Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and then the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA where he retired as a Colonel of Aviation in 1997.

Colonel Lennon’s military awards consisted of the Legion of Merit, 5 awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, 4 awards of the Army Commendation Medal, two awards of the National Defense Service Medal and two awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was also authorized to wear the Master Army Aviator Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge. He also held a FAA commercial pilot’s license with ratings for single and multi-engine airplanes and helicopters and instrument ratings for both airplanes and helicopters.

After retiring from the Army, COL Lennon worked for several years as a computer programmer/analyst and IT consultant for Computer Aid, Inc. and TecPort Solutions, Inc. of Harrisburg, PA. Bert also performed service with some local veteran’s organizations. He served for several years as a board member and publisher of the chapter newsletter for the Cumberland Valley Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. He also served several years as a member of the Carlisle Barracks Retiree Advisory Council. In 2013, Bert performed civic duty when he was elected as one of 9 Carlisle Borough Government Study Commissioners which wrote a home rule charter that is now used to govern the borough. Bert was a life member of the West Point Association of Graduates, the Association of the United States Army, the Army Aviation Association of American, the Military Officers Association of America, the US Army War College Foundation and the American Legion.

Bert was preceded in death by his brother, Ross Lennon and his stepson, David W. Bush.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carol (Elkins) Lennon of Carlisle, PA, his son Seth Lennon and his wife Samantha of Alexandria, VA and daughter-in-law, Jaime Bush, his brother Wade Lennon (Gay) of Gilmer, TX, his sister, Deanna (Lennon) Everett (Vincent) of Benbrook, TX, and his sister-in-law, Lisa Lennon of Avery, TX.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., at Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, 2020 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013.  

A viewing will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at Avery Methodist Church, 390 W Alabama Avenue, Avery, TX 75554. Interment will take place at Avery Cemetery in Avery, TX. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110 of the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County, 145 S. Hanover St. Carlisle, PA 17013