Appleton, Kenneth W. 1923-1945

SMITH, PILGRIM, KRAMER

Posted By: Bart Hamlett (email)
Date: 1/19/2016 at 20:02:33

First Lieutenant Kenneth W. Appleton, 23 son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Appleton of Edgewood, was one of 13 men killed in the crash of an Army bomber near Hondo, Texas Army Airfield on October 18th. Lt Appleton was co-pilot of the plane.
The body was brought to Edgewood by train with a soldier escort and services were held on Tuesday. Following a prayer service at the Rhines Funeral Chapel the services were held at the Methodist Church with Rev. W.L. Feller, a former pastor officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Scott and Rev. Meyer. The school and business houses were closed for the funeral and the pupils attended in a group.
Claude Rulon and Mabel Tyrrell, accompanied by Miss Forward, sand "Some Day We'll Understand" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere".
Pallbearers all service men in uniform, were Renold Hentges of Alta Vista, Newell Tinkey of Greeley, Durward Culbertson and Lee Hamlett of Edgewood, Bruce Fenchel of Strawberry Point and Thomas Burtoon, the soldier escort. Burial was in the Edgewood Cemetery.
The church was filled with friends, neighbors and relatives, even the basement being used to seat the crowd. The beautiful and profuse display of flowers testified to the shock and sorrow of the community over the death of this likeable service man.
Kenneth W. Appleton, son of Roy R. and Blanche Smith Appleton, was born at the farm home near Edgewood, May 1, 1923. He finished the work of the local rural school and in 1940 was graduated from Edgewood High School. After graduation, he went to Inglewood, Calif., where he took a course in aeronautical engineering, and at the time of his induction into the Army he was employed as draftsman in Douglas Aircraft at El Segundo, Calif.
In February, 1943 he reported for basic training, later he was chosen as pilot and took air cadet training. On February 8, 1944 he was graduated from Fort Summer, New Mexico army air field, He was commissioned Second Lieutenant and later promoted to First Lieutenant.
On Jan. 23, 1943 he was married to Miss Dorothy Jean Pilgrim. To their union a daughter, Susan Kay was born Dec. 12, 1944.
Surviving him are his wife and daughter, his parents and one sister, Mrs. H.J. Kramer of Wapato, Washington.
( as printed in the Clayton County Press-Journal Edgewood Department October 25, 1945 )