Kenneth Bernard Smith was born Oct. 16, 1917, at Slaton, Texas, the son of Charles B. and Catherine Campbell Smith. He completed high school at Fort Supply, Okla. during the height of the Great Depression.
The following year he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) where he served in several companies in Wyoming: 853 in Dayton, 3887 in Devils Tower, 1811 at Dayton again, and then 886 in Gillette.
While at Company 853 he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, attending summer camp with them, in order to earn an extra dollar a day. At the last posting in Gillette, he met and married Helen L. Vanderheyden in 1939. By that time Reserve officers were being called to active duty and leaving the CCC, and some enrollees were being selected for command positions.
He was appointed as a subaltern in the spring of 1941 and served in several companies, closing out several in 1942. When the CCC was completely disbanded, he worked for a short time in an aircraft factory before joining the Navy Seabees.
He served in the Pacific at Honolulu, Tinian Island and Okinawa in preparation for the invasion of Japan.
After the war ended in 1945, he worked for a time in Denver, Colo., before deciding to join the U.S. Army where he served until retirement in 1973. It was a family decision to make the army a career and during the succeeding years he had many interesting assignments, including Germany twice, Iran, Panama, Vietnam and Korea, besides a number of assignments in the United States.
After retirement and not having a compelling interest to settle at any specific location, Ava was chosen and a small farm was purchased. He and Helen built a home, made friends, and worked to fit into the community.
They joined a local church, worked in the Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star and in other ways strived to become part of the community. In 1992 they moved into Ava city limits. He lost Helen in 1997 but continued with most activities. On Nov. 23, 2007, he remarried.
Kenneth married Julie Jahn, a longtime friend. They continued to reside in Ava, Missouri, until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Julie; his two sons, Richard K. and Leslie G., their wives, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dr. W. Smith and Charles B. Smith, of Houston, Texas; a sister, Marjorie Lehman, of Lawton, Okla., and another sister, Elouise Magowan, of Conway, S.C.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Ava United Methodist Church, 941 SW 4th St., in Ava
In lieu of flowers donations in Ken's memory may be made to the Ava Masonic Lodge #26, PO Box 617, Ava, MO 65608; or Ava United Methodist Church for the "Fellowship Hall Fund."
Thank you for your warm friendship you have developed with Ken during his life in Ava.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava.
The following year he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) where he served in several companies in Wyoming: 853 in Dayton, 3887 in Devils Tower, 1811 at Dayton again, and then 886 in Gillette.
While at Company 853 he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, attending summer camp with them, in order to earn an extra dollar a day. At the last posting in Gillette, he met and married Helen L. Vanderheyden in 1939. By that time Reserve officers were being called to active duty and leaving the CCC, and some enrollees were being selected for command positions.
He was appointed as a subaltern in the spring of 1941 and served in several companies, closing out several in 1942. When the CCC was completely disbanded, he worked for a short time in an aircraft factory before joining the Navy Seabees.
He served in the Pacific at Honolulu, Tinian Island and Okinawa in preparation for the invasion of Japan.
After the war ended in 1945, he worked for a time in Denver, Colo., before deciding to join the U.S. Army where he served until retirement in 1973. It was a family decision to make the army a career and during the succeeding years he had many interesting assignments, including Germany twice, Iran, Panama, Vietnam and Korea, besides a number of assignments in the United States.
After retirement and not having a compelling interest to settle at any specific location, Ava was chosen and a small farm was purchased. He and Helen built a home, made friends, and worked to fit into the community.
They joined a local church, worked in the Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star and in other ways strived to become part of the community. In 1992 they moved into Ava city limits. He lost Helen in 1997 but continued with most activities. On Nov. 23, 2007, he remarried.
Kenneth married Julie Jahn, a longtime friend. They continued to reside in Ava, Missouri, until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Julie; his two sons, Richard K. and Leslie G., their wives, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dr. W. Smith and Charles B. Smith, of Houston, Texas; a sister, Marjorie Lehman, of Lawton, Okla., and another sister, Elouise Magowan, of Conway, S.C.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Ava United Methodist Church, 941 SW 4th St., in Ava
In lieu of flowers donations in Ken's memory may be made to the Ava Masonic Lodge #26, PO Box 617, Ava, MO 65608; or Ava United Methodist Church for the "Fellowship Hall Fund."
Thank you for your warm friendship you have developed with Ken during his life in Ava.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava.
Kenneth Bernard Smith was born Oct. 16, 1917, at Slaton, Texas, the son of Charles B. and Catherine Campbell Smith. He completed high school at Fort Supply, Okla. during the height of the Great Depression.
The following year he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) where he served in several companies in Wyoming: 853 in Dayton, 3887 in Devils Tower, 1811 at Dayton again, and then 886 in Gillette.
While at Company 853 he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, attending summer camp with them, in order to earn an extra dollar a day. At the last posting in Gillette, he met and married Helen L. Vanderheyden in 1939. By that time Reserve officers were being called to active duty and leaving the CCC, and some enrollees were being selected for command positions.
He was appointed as a subaltern in the spring of 1941 and served in several companies, closing out several in 1942. When the CCC was completely disbanded, he worked for a short time in an aircraft factory before joining the Navy Seabees.
He served in the Pacific at Honolulu, Tinian Island and Okinawa in preparation for the invasion of Japan.
After the war ended in 1945, he worked for a time in Denver, Colo., before deciding to join the U.S. Army where he served until retirement in 1973. It was a family decision to make the army a career and during the succeeding years he had many interesting assignments, including Germany twice, Iran, Panama, Vietnam and Korea, besides a number of assignments in the United States.
After retirement and not having a compelling interest to settle at any specific location, Ava was chosen and a small farm was purchased. He and Helen built a home, made friends, and worked to fit into the community.
They joined a local church, worked in the Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star and in other ways strived to become part of the community. In 1992 they moved into Ava city limits. He lost Helen in 1997 but continued with most activities. On Nov. 23, 2007, he remarried.
Kenneth married Julie Jahn, a longtime friend. They continued to reside in Ava, Missouri, until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Julie; his two sons, Richard K. and Leslie G., their wives, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dr. W. Smith and Charles B. Smith, of Houston, Texas; a sister, Marjorie Lehman, of Lawton, Okla., and another sister, Elouise Magowan, of Conway, S.C.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Ava United Methodist Church, 941 SW 4th St., in Ava
In lieu of flowers donations in Ken's memory may be made to the Ava Masonic Lodge #26, PO Box 617, Ava, MO 65608; or Ava United Methodist Church for the "Fellowship Hall Fund."
Thank you for your warm friendship you have developed with Ken during his life in Ava.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava.
The following year he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) where he served in several companies in Wyoming: 853 in Dayton, 3887 in Devils Tower, 1811 at Dayton again, and then 886 in Gillette.
While at Company 853 he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, attending summer camp with them, in order to earn an extra dollar a day. At the last posting in Gillette, he met and married Helen L. Vanderheyden in 1939. By that time Reserve officers were being called to active duty and leaving the CCC, and some enrollees were being selected for command positions.
He was appointed as a subaltern in the spring of 1941 and served in several companies, closing out several in 1942. When the CCC was completely disbanded, he worked for a short time in an aircraft factory before joining the Navy Seabees.
He served in the Pacific at Honolulu, Tinian Island and Okinawa in preparation for the invasion of Japan.
After the war ended in 1945, he worked for a time in Denver, Colo., before deciding to join the U.S. Army where he served until retirement in 1973. It was a family decision to make the army a career and during the succeeding years he had many interesting assignments, including Germany twice, Iran, Panama, Vietnam and Korea, besides a number of assignments in the United States.
After retirement and not having a compelling interest to settle at any specific location, Ava was chosen and a small farm was purchased. He and Helen built a home, made friends, and worked to fit into the community.
They joined a local church, worked in the Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star and in other ways strived to become part of the community. In 1992 they moved into Ava city limits. He lost Helen in 1997 but continued with most activities. On Nov. 23, 2007, he remarried.
Kenneth married Julie Jahn, a longtime friend. They continued to reside in Ava, Missouri, until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Julie; his two sons, Richard K. and Leslie G., their wives, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dr. W. Smith and Charles B. Smith, of Houston, Texas; a sister, Marjorie Lehman, of Lawton, Okla., and another sister, Elouise Magowan, of Conway, S.C.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Ava United Methodist Church, 941 SW 4th St., in Ava
In lieu of flowers donations in Ken's memory may be made to the Ava Masonic Lodge #26, PO Box 617, Ava, MO 65608; or Ava United Methodist Church for the "Fellowship Hall Fund."
Thank you for your warm friendship you have developed with Ken during his life in Ava.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava.
Inscription
J 51
KENNETH B SMITH
CSGM US ARMY
WWII KOREA VIETNAM
OCT 16 1917 - JAN 16 2010
HELEN V SMITH
JUL 8 1921 - SEP 21 1997
Gravesite Details
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
Family Members
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