Air Force Colonel and WWII Veteran
On July 30, 2007, Marvin E. "Pat" Kay, a retired Air Force Colonel and WWII veteran, successfully completed his journey in this life at age 89. At the time of his death, he was residing in the Greenspring Retirement Center in Springfield, Va., and died quietly in his sleep following a series of physical setbacks. He had lived in the Washington, D.C., area for the past 47 years.
Pat, as he was known to all his friends, was born July 22, 1918, in Tipton, Mo., the first of three sons of John Patrick and Flossie May Kay. The family moved to California, Mo., in 1923, where Pat was raised and completed high school.
He graduated in 1940 from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo., with a BS in Education. While there, he was a member of the MULES championship basketball team which, in 1938, won the first international basketball tournament sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball. He received a trophy presented by the "father of basketball," Dr. Naismith.
Pat came to West Plains in 1940 to teach mathematics and physics, to coach the junior tennis and basketball teams, and to be the sponsor of the junior class. He always spoke fondly of his students and of his experience as a teacher. It was here that he met his wife-to-be, Edna Marie Coats, the daughter of Ed and Vera Coats. Although he taught here for only one year, he made many friends and viewed West Plains as being a warm and friendly town. Through the years, he and Edna made frequent visits to West Plains to visit friends and relatives.
After teaching for one year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private (salary $21/mo.) with the intention of returning to West Plains after one year's service; however, WWII changed that! With the war at hand, he decided he wanted to be a flyer and applied but was initially not accepted. His determination led him to write directly to the Secretary of War (how many privates would do that!) and he was accepted into Officer Training School.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, April
1, 1942, in the then Army Air Forces (first in class). In 1942, Col. Kay joined the 97th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, and flew in the first B-17 Flying Fortress missions out of England over occupied Europe in August of that year. Later, the group participated in the invasion of North Africa where Col. Kay was shot down on his 13th mission over "no-man's-land" during a bombing mission to Bizerte.
After a remarkable crash landing that was made by his injured pilot, Col. Kay and the crew all survived. It took several days for him to find his way back to his unit (things were different then), and by the time he arrived they had presumed him dead and had dispersed his belongings. His biggest regret was that they had eaten the cookies that his mother had sent him.
After the war, Col. Kay spent the balance of his career in research, development and testing of advanced weapon systems. During the years, he made many contributions not only in the technologies, such as the first use of military satellites, but also in the areas of reducing unwarranted duplication and in assuring technical and operational interoperability among the command/control/communication (C3) development programs of the military services. He served as the first chairman of a Joint Service's Office for Advanced Tactical C3 Systems at the Department of Defense.
Col. Kay's military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals.
His education also included a MS in Physics from Ohio State University and a MS in Management of Research and Development Facilities from the University of Chicago where he graduated at the top of his class. Golf at Andrews Air Force Base was one of Col. Kay's loves and even in his early 80s he was capable of shooting near his age despite the fact that he had a very "unorthodox" swing. His saving grace was that he was a natural athlete who had excelled in sports, particularly in tennis and basketball.
Col. Kay was a member of the Chapel Choir and the Base Retiree Activity Volunteer Office at Andrews Air Force Base. He also was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans, the Air Force Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Aero Club of Washington, the American Association of Retired Persons where he was a coordinator/counselor, and he was a key resource at VICAP, the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.
Pat also was a member of the United Methodist Church in Springfield, Va., where he also loved to sing in the choir.
Family members include his wife, Edna, deceased; a son, Jimmy, deceased; a daughter, Barbara, who survives with her husband, Ted, in West Plains; a brother, Norris Dean (deceased); a second brother, Bill, who survives with his wife, Elaine, in Portola Valley, Calif.; and his "sister in love" (Dean's wife), Edwina, who survives in California, Mo. Other survivors include four grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren, all in the Washington area.
Col. Kay will be interred at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are pending. On behalf of his friends and family, we say, "God Speed, Pat!"
On July 30, 2007, Marvin E. "Pat" Kay, a retired Air Force Colonel and WWII veteran, successfully completed his journey in this life at age 89. At the time of his death, he was residing in the Greenspring Retirement Center in Springfield, Va., and died quietly in his sleep following a series of physical setbacks. He had lived in the Washington, D.C., area for the past 47 years.
Pat, as he was known to all his friends, was born July 22, 1918, in Tipton, Mo., the first of three sons of John Patrick and Flossie May Kay. The family moved to California, Mo., in 1923, where Pat was raised and completed high school.
He graduated in 1940 from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo., with a BS in Education. While there, he was a member of the MULES championship basketball team which, in 1938, won the first international basketball tournament sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball. He received a trophy presented by the "father of basketball," Dr. Naismith.
Pat came to West Plains in 1940 to teach mathematics and physics, to coach the junior tennis and basketball teams, and to be the sponsor of the junior class. He always spoke fondly of his students and of his experience as a teacher. It was here that he met his wife-to-be, Edna Marie Coats, the daughter of Ed and Vera Coats. Although he taught here for only one year, he made many friends and viewed West Plains as being a warm and friendly town. Through the years, he and Edna made frequent visits to West Plains to visit friends and relatives.
After teaching for one year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private (salary $21/mo.) with the intention of returning to West Plains after one year's service; however, WWII changed that! With the war at hand, he decided he wanted to be a flyer and applied but was initially not accepted. His determination led him to write directly to the Secretary of War (how many privates would do that!) and he was accepted into Officer Training School.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, April
1, 1942, in the then Army Air Forces (first in class). In 1942, Col. Kay joined the 97th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, and flew in the first B-17 Flying Fortress missions out of England over occupied Europe in August of that year. Later, the group participated in the invasion of North Africa where Col. Kay was shot down on his 13th mission over "no-man's-land" during a bombing mission to Bizerte.
After a remarkable crash landing that was made by his injured pilot, Col. Kay and the crew all survived. It took several days for him to find his way back to his unit (things were different then), and by the time he arrived they had presumed him dead and had dispersed his belongings. His biggest regret was that they had eaten the cookies that his mother had sent him.
After the war, Col. Kay spent the balance of his career in research, development and testing of advanced weapon systems. During the years, he made many contributions not only in the technologies, such as the first use of military satellites, but also in the areas of reducing unwarranted duplication and in assuring technical and operational interoperability among the command/control/communication (C3) development programs of the military services. He served as the first chairman of a Joint Service's Office for Advanced Tactical C3 Systems at the Department of Defense.
Col. Kay's military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals.
His education also included a MS in Physics from Ohio State University and a MS in Management of Research and Development Facilities from the University of Chicago where he graduated at the top of his class. Golf at Andrews Air Force Base was one of Col. Kay's loves and even in his early 80s he was capable of shooting near his age despite the fact that he had a very "unorthodox" swing. His saving grace was that he was a natural athlete who had excelled in sports, particularly in tennis and basketball.
Col. Kay was a member of the Chapel Choir and the Base Retiree Activity Volunteer Office at Andrews Air Force Base. He also was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans, the Air Force Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Aero Club of Washington, the American Association of Retired Persons where he was a coordinator/counselor, and he was a key resource at VICAP, the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.
Pat also was a member of the United Methodist Church in Springfield, Va., where he also loved to sing in the choir.
Family members include his wife, Edna, deceased; a son, Jimmy, deceased; a daughter, Barbara, who survives with her husband, Ted, in West Plains; a brother, Norris Dean (deceased); a second brother, Bill, who survives with his wife, Elaine, in Portola Valley, Calif.; and his "sister in love" (Dean's wife), Edwina, who survives in California, Mo. Other survivors include four grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren, all in the Washington area.
Col. Kay will be interred at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are pending. On behalf of his friends and family, we say, "God Speed, Pat!"
Air Force Colonel and WWII Veteran
On July 30, 2007, Marvin E. "Pat" Kay, a retired Air Force Colonel and WWII veteran, successfully completed his journey in this life at age 89. At the time of his death, he was residing in the Greenspring Retirement Center in Springfield, Va., and died quietly in his sleep following a series of physical setbacks. He had lived in the Washington, D.C., area for the past 47 years.
Pat, as he was known to all his friends, was born July 22, 1918, in Tipton, Mo., the first of three sons of John Patrick and Flossie May Kay. The family moved to California, Mo., in 1923, where Pat was raised and completed high school.
He graduated in 1940 from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo., with a BS in Education. While there, he was a member of the MULES championship basketball team which, in 1938, won the first international basketball tournament sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball. He received a trophy presented by the "father of basketball," Dr. Naismith.
Pat came to West Plains in 1940 to teach mathematics and physics, to coach the junior tennis and basketball teams, and to be the sponsor of the junior class. He always spoke fondly of his students and of his experience as a teacher. It was here that he met his wife-to-be, Edna Marie Coats, the daughter of Ed and Vera Coats. Although he taught here for only one year, he made many friends and viewed West Plains as being a warm and friendly town. Through the years, he and Edna made frequent visits to West Plains to visit friends and relatives.
After teaching for one year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private (salary $21/mo.) with the intention of returning to West Plains after one year's service; however, WWII changed that! With the war at hand, he decided he wanted to be a flyer and applied but was initially not accepted. His determination led him to write directly to the Secretary of War (how many privates would do that!) and he was accepted into Officer Training School.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, April
1, 1942, in the then Army Air Forces (first in class). In 1942, Col. Kay joined the 97th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, and flew in the first B-17 Flying Fortress missions out of England over occupied Europe in August of that year. Later, the group participated in the invasion of North Africa where Col. Kay was shot down on his 13th mission over "no-man's-land" during a bombing mission to Bizerte.
After a remarkable crash landing that was made by his injured pilot, Col. Kay and the crew all survived. It took several days for him to find his way back to his unit (things were different then), and by the time he arrived they had presumed him dead and had dispersed his belongings. His biggest regret was that they had eaten the cookies that his mother had sent him.
After the war, Col. Kay spent the balance of his career in research, development and testing of advanced weapon systems. During the years, he made many contributions not only in the technologies, such as the first use of military satellites, but also in the areas of reducing unwarranted duplication and in assuring technical and operational interoperability among the command/control/communication (C3) development programs of the military services. He served as the first chairman of a Joint Service's Office for Advanced Tactical C3 Systems at the Department of Defense.
Col. Kay's military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals.
His education also included a MS in Physics from Ohio State University and a MS in Management of Research and Development Facilities from the University of Chicago where he graduated at the top of his class. Golf at Andrews Air Force Base was one of Col. Kay's loves and even in his early 80s he was capable of shooting near his age despite the fact that he had a very "unorthodox" swing. His saving grace was that he was a natural athlete who had excelled in sports, particularly in tennis and basketball.
Col. Kay was a member of the Chapel Choir and the Base Retiree Activity Volunteer Office at Andrews Air Force Base. He also was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans, the Air Force Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Aero Club of Washington, the American Association of Retired Persons where he was a coordinator/counselor, and he was a key resource at VICAP, the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.
Pat also was a member of the United Methodist Church in Springfield, Va., where he also loved to sing in the choir.
Family members include his wife, Edna, deceased; a son, Jimmy, deceased; a daughter, Barbara, who survives with her husband, Ted, in West Plains; a brother, Norris Dean (deceased); a second brother, Bill, who survives with his wife, Elaine, in Portola Valley, Calif.; and his "sister in love" (Dean's wife), Edwina, who survives in California, Mo. Other survivors include four grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren, all in the Washington area.
Col. Kay will be interred at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are pending. On behalf of his friends and family, we say, "God Speed, Pat!"
On July 30, 2007, Marvin E. "Pat" Kay, a retired Air Force Colonel and WWII veteran, successfully completed his journey in this life at age 89. At the time of his death, he was residing in the Greenspring Retirement Center in Springfield, Va., and died quietly in his sleep following a series of physical setbacks. He had lived in the Washington, D.C., area for the past 47 years.
Pat, as he was known to all his friends, was born July 22, 1918, in Tipton, Mo., the first of three sons of John Patrick and Flossie May Kay. The family moved to California, Mo., in 1923, where Pat was raised and completed high school.
He graduated in 1940 from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo., with a BS in Education. While there, he was a member of the MULES championship basketball team which, in 1938, won the first international basketball tournament sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball. He received a trophy presented by the "father of basketball," Dr. Naismith.
Pat came to West Plains in 1940 to teach mathematics and physics, to coach the junior tennis and basketball teams, and to be the sponsor of the junior class. He always spoke fondly of his students and of his experience as a teacher. It was here that he met his wife-to-be, Edna Marie Coats, the daughter of Ed and Vera Coats. Although he taught here for only one year, he made many friends and viewed West Plains as being a warm and friendly town. Through the years, he and Edna made frequent visits to West Plains to visit friends and relatives.
After teaching for one year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private (salary $21/mo.) with the intention of returning to West Plains after one year's service; however, WWII changed that! With the war at hand, he decided he wanted to be a flyer and applied but was initially not accepted. His determination led him to write directly to the Secretary of War (how many privates would do that!) and he was accepted into Officer Training School.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, April
1, 1942, in the then Army Air Forces (first in class). In 1942, Col. Kay joined the 97th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, and flew in the first B-17 Flying Fortress missions out of England over occupied Europe in August of that year. Later, the group participated in the invasion of North Africa where Col. Kay was shot down on his 13th mission over "no-man's-land" during a bombing mission to Bizerte.
After a remarkable crash landing that was made by his injured pilot, Col. Kay and the crew all survived. It took several days for him to find his way back to his unit (things were different then), and by the time he arrived they had presumed him dead and had dispersed his belongings. His biggest regret was that they had eaten the cookies that his mother had sent him.
After the war, Col. Kay spent the balance of his career in research, development and testing of advanced weapon systems. During the years, he made many contributions not only in the technologies, such as the first use of military satellites, but also in the areas of reducing unwarranted duplication and in assuring technical and operational interoperability among the command/control/communication (C3) development programs of the military services. He served as the first chairman of a Joint Service's Office for Advanced Tactical C3 Systems at the Department of Defense.
Col. Kay's military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals.
His education also included a MS in Physics from Ohio State University and a MS in Management of Research and Development Facilities from the University of Chicago where he graduated at the top of his class. Golf at Andrews Air Force Base was one of Col. Kay's loves and even in his early 80s he was capable of shooting near his age despite the fact that he had a very "unorthodox" swing. His saving grace was that he was a natural athlete who had excelled in sports, particularly in tennis and basketball.
Col. Kay was a member of the Chapel Choir and the Base Retiree Activity Volunteer Office at Andrews Air Force Base. He also was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans, the Air Force Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Aero Club of Washington, the American Association of Retired Persons where he was a coordinator/counselor, and he was a key resource at VICAP, the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.
Pat also was a member of the United Methodist Church in Springfield, Va., where he also loved to sing in the choir.
Family members include his wife, Edna, deceased; a son, Jimmy, deceased; a daughter, Barbara, who survives with her husband, Ted, in West Plains; a brother, Norris Dean (deceased); a second brother, Bill, who survives with his wife, Elaine, in Portola Valley, Calif.; and his "sister in love" (Dean's wife), Edwina, who survives in California, Mo. Other survivors include four grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren, all in the Washington area.
Col. Kay will be interred at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are pending. On behalf of his friends and family, we say, "God Speed, Pat!"
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