Kenneth Kerr

A member of the “Greatest Generation” finished his watch on February 7, 2020. Kenneth Howard Kerr, proud WW II veteran who served at Okinawa, died peacefully at the home of his daughter, Penny Gipson in Phoenix, AZ.

Kenneth was born October 27, 1921 in Culver, Indiana. He joined the Navy in 1942 to “fight for his country” and was Honorable Discharged as Pharmacist’s Mate First Class, December 1945. During the war years, Kenneth met and fell in love with Frances Faye Walden and they were married in a whirlwind, made for a Hollywood fashion in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, 1943.

After the war, Kenneth attended St. Louis University where he graduated with a degree in Business. He and Frances lived in St. Louis with their two girls until 1953, when they packed up and headed to California. They settled in the Long Beach area where a third daughter was born to them. Ken worked his way up from temporary Accounting Clerk to Assistant CEO of McDonell Douglas.

Upon retirement, Ken and Frances bought a home in Seven Hills, Hemet where he continued to enjoy his life-long passion of golf. He and Frances began a second career working for Bonneville Travel in Hemet. They were able to travel the world as agents/consultants specializing in golf centered vacation packages.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his life-long love. He continued to live in Hemet until October of 2019, when at the age of 98, he moved to Phoenix to live with his daughter Penny and her family.

He will be remembered as a man who loved his country, had a strong work ethic, enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and loved golf!

He is survived by his three daughters, Karen Elias, Penny Gipson, and Kristina Kerr. He was a grandfather to six, and great grandfather to seven. Other surviving family/friends include nephew, Pat Walden, and long-time friend, Marion Young.

He will be interred with full Military Honors at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA on March 2nd at 1:00 pm to rest in peace alongside his love, Frances.