Brig. Ret. Kenneth Raymond Gen. Fleenor

Brig. Gen. Ret. Kenneth Raymond Fleenor passed away on December 10, 2010 after a lengthy illness surrounded by his loving family. Ken was born in 1929, the son of Alberta Burch and Nelson Fleenor. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Nelson Fleenor, Francis Fleenor, and Robert Fleenor, sister Angela Fleenor, grandson John Duc, and granddaughter Anne Duc.

Ken Fleenor was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He graduated from Western Kentucky State University in January 1952. Following graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and reported for active duty in April 1952. He earned his pilot wings later that year.

His 28 year career in the Air Force took him all over the world and brought him much joy in flying his airplanes and serving his beloved country. In December 1967, 13 missions short of fulfilling his quota of missions in Vietnam, his F-4 Phantom fighter jet was shot down near Hanoi. He was captured and spent 5 years and 3 months in North Vietnamese prisons. Enduring unimaginable starvation, isolation, and torture, his faith in God helped him survive these conditions. He was released from captivity in March, 1973 at the end of the war and continued his Air Force career. Moving the family to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he served as Instructor Pilot, Wing Deputy Commander of Operations, Base Commander, Wing Commander, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of Air Training Command before retiring.

In his retirement he worked for the Governor of Texas as Regional Coordinator of the Texans War on Drugs covering 59 counties in South Texas. He later became the General Manager of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and and the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum. Ken served on the Board of Directors of USAA, USAA Federal Savings Bank, USAA Real Estate Company, and the Retama Entertainment Group. He also served on the Selma City Council 1984-1987, and as Mayor of Selma 1987-1994. He was recently honored by the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for his role in the issuance of tax exempt bonds that were used to build Retama Park which produced 1, 500 jobs during live racing. Ken's foresight and vision led to the economic growth in the area and the business boom that included thousands of new homes and the development of the Forum shopping center.

Ken loved flying airplanes, earning his commercial license before retiring from the Air Force. He was a avid golfer. He was an accomplished water skier, imitating performers at Cypress Gardens in his younger years.

He is survived by Anne Elizabeth Read Fleenor, his loving wife of 59 years, his children, Katherine Thomas and husband Duane, John Fleenor and wife Mary, Patricia Wood and husband James, Kerry Horne, and Kay Duc and husband Michael; his grandchildren, Nicholas Thomas, Emily Thomas, Kenneth Fleenor II and wife Laura, James Fleenor and wife Patricia, Stephen Fleenor and wife Kahli, Christine Young and husband Jim, Michael Wood, Brian Wood, Meagan Brooks and husband Caleb, Clinton Horne, Leigh Anne Duc; great grandchildren Weston Brooks and Waylon Brooks; and his sisters, Martha Gibbs, Patricia Day, and Joanne Ruff and husband Ed.

Ken was a beloved father to his children, Papa to his grandchildren, and devoted husband to his precious Anne. He was ever-faithful to his family, his country and his God. He will be missed by his family and many friends.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Sayed Ali from BAMC for his support and expert care and Annalisa Sierleja, RN and the nurses from Vista Care hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association at www.phassociation.org or to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-7 p.m. at Porter Loring Morturaries on 1604 in San Antonio. A funeral mass will be held at 10 am on Tuesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church which is located at 16075 North Evans Road, Selma, TX, 78154. The church service will be followed by burial in the Holy Cross Cemetery on FM 2252.