Kelly Henard was born at home in Klondike, TN on March 16, 1923 to Mattie (Harrell) and Luther W. Henard. He grew up in Kingsport, TN where he played basketball and baseball for the Dobbins Bennett HS’s class of 1942. After graduating, he joined the newly formed Army Air Corp on deferment with the intention of going to OTS (Officer Training School) upon graduation from Tennessee Tech. However, he was called up early and entered military service after just one semester of college.
As a young 2nd Lieutenant, he married his High School sweetheart, Margaret Oneda (Neda) Brown, on August 22, 1944 in a rescheduled ceremony as he was unable to get leave for the original wedding date. The young couple then took the train out West where he entered flight school. He was assigned to a bomber squadron as a bombardier on a B-17. His plane’s crew was sent to Europe and shot down over Italy on their third mission (all survived both the downing and the German POW camp). Life, however, had other plans for Kelly. Shortly before his crew went to Europe, Kelly was selected to become a Navigator on a new aircraft, the B-29.
By the time Kelly completed Navigation School and was assigned to a new B-29 squadron, the war ended. He arrived in Munich, Germany with the Occupation Forces. Neda was able to join him where they lived through several major historic events such as the Berlin Air Lift and the “Iron Curtain’s” descent upon Eastern Europe.
Returning to the USA, Kelly and Neda moved often while Kelly continued his military career with the newly formed USAF. This peaceful period was interrupted in 1950 by the start of the Korean War. During that conflict, Kelly flew numerous combat missions over North Korea from the US base in Okinawa and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Upon his return to the States, he was assigned to a SAC (Strategic Air Command) squadron. SAC’s mission was to have planes in the air around the clock to ensure the ability to strike at the enemy in the event of a nuclear attack. His payload was armed atomic bombs and his one-way target was usually Russia. While stationed in Fort Worth, TX, his two daughters, Susan (Susie) Priscilla and Cynthia (Cindy) Anne were born. The family now complete, Kelly was next stationed at Eglin AFB in Fort Walton Beach, FL. By now he was a Navigator/Bombardier assigned to a B-52 crew. This tumultuous time included the height of the Cold War – the Cuban Missile Crisis. During this time, he was able to finally complete his BA in Business from Florida State University.
During the Vietnam Conflict, Kelly was stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH where he ended his military career with the rank of Lt. Colonel. After a one-year period working for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, MO, Kelly accepted a position with the Department of Defense and, in 1971, transferred back to Eglin AFB where he eventually ended his second career. His work with USAF and the DOD included testing the “Hound Dog” and subsequent laser guided missiles.
After this second retirement, he turned a hobby into a third career as a “Used Car Magnate”. He bought a junk yard in nearby Navarre, FL and proceeded to become the supplier of used cars and car parts to an interesting and varied clientele (to say the least). KellyCo was born. He and Neda welcomed four grandchildren into their lives: Jennifer Suzanne Griffin, Patrick Luther Griffin, Kelly Lauren Dean and Joel Reagan Dean.
Kelly and Neda retired for good and moved to Dothan, AL in 2009 to be closer to family. They enjoyed their time as “inmates” at Grove Park until Neda passed away April 3, 2013 just weeks after Kelly’s 90th birthday. Kelly continued to enjoy his growing family which now included six GREAT Grandchildren: Griffin Thomas Moore, Isabel Margaret Moore, William Craig Moore, Ethan West Groba, Hailey Dean Groba and Joseph Joel Dean.
He passed away peacefully in his chair on Neda’s (and Joel’s) birthday, July 6, 2020 at the age of 97. He lived a very eventful and productive life. He was rarely sick and never complained. He truly embodies all the characteristics that made him a member of America’s “Greatest Generation”. I am proud to call him Dad.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18