THE LIFE AND TIMES OF KENNETH SAMUEL KITZMILLER

On April 27, 1924 at Wellington, KS , Kenneth Samuel Kitzmiller was born to
parents Thomas Edward and Lillian Cecil (Pierpoint) Kitzmiller. He was the
fourth in line of seven children. While very young, Kenneth loved to
stand in the yard in Wellington and watch airplanes fly over. His Dad took
him to an Air Show and as he watched the planes do their tricks, his desire
to fly was born. At the age of six, Kenneth and his family moved to the
farm in Colorado four miles south of the Two Buttes Mountain where his
parents homesteaded.

At a young age, Kenneth became a builder, and one of the first things he
built was a pair of wings so he could fly. To try them out, he wanted to
climb to the top of the windmill, but his Dad talked him into jumping off
the car with them first. He didn't try the wings again because they were
torn up on the first jump, but he was still determined to fly, and later,
would get to.

The Two Buttes Dam had been built and was being used to irrigate land laying
to the east of it. When he was about ten or twelve years of age, Kenneth
would swim in the irrigation ditch with the ditch rider's sons. That's how
he learned to swim.

During the winter months his mother and the kids would move to Two Buttes so
the kids could attend school. He and three pals, Stanley Ewing, Chet and
Bill Harper were always together and were called the Town Tuffs, even though
they didn't cause any trouble. Stanley had a bicycle his Grandpa bought for
him and all four boys would ride it together. Stanley always did the
peddling, Kenneth rode on the handle bars and Chet and Bill rode on the
back. They rode all over Two Buttes like this.

Kenneth graduated from Two Buttes School in l942, then attended college at
Goodwell, Oklahoma, where he met his future wife, Mary Eloice Lee. Kenneth
only went one semester at this time, because World War II was going on. He
said that he joined the army to keep some man who had kids from going to
war.

As he was arriving at Boot Camp in Kerns, Utah, Kenneth could see the
trainees drilling in the snow and he said, "This old kid's heart sunk way
down, because it looked pretty tough." He was 19 years old. After being
inducted in the Army as a dental assistant, Kenneth sent a letter to request
acceptance into flight school. This request proved successful as he was
sent to Miami Beach Florida for further training as a cadet in the Army Air
Force to become a pilot. His dream was coming true.

Kenneth was trained to fly a P-51 Mustang fighter plane, arguably the best
combat aircraft of World War II. After becoming a Flight Officer, Kenneth
assisted the training of Cadets by towing targets for shooting practice.

Kenneth asked Mary to marry him before he left for the army. He sent her an
engagement ring through the mail. Mary said "yes", but had to get
permission from Kenneth's Dad before they were allowed to get a license
because even though he was old enough to join the army, he was not old
enough to get married. They were married in Vernon, TX on June 10, 1944.
Mary then followed Kenneth to other places where he was stationed. He
received orders to go over seas, but the war ended first.

Following the war, Kenneth and Mary moved to the farm four miles south of
the Two Buttes Mountain where they farmed and raised two daughters. Even
though crops and money were in short supply, the girls never lacked for
anything. They always felt loved and cared for. Along with their dolls and
play dishes, their favorite things to play with were a kitchen cupboard and
a table set built by their Dad.

Kenneth and Mary went back to college and received their teaching degrees,
then taught school at Two Buttes and Vilas, Colorado. Kenneth taught Jr.
and Sr. High Math, Science and Shop, coached the Vilas Girls' Basketball
Team and sponsored many Senior trips. Mary got to go on these trips also as
the girls' sponsor, except the one to Hawaii, because Lex Thompson was the
only senior that year. Many former students have said that they wouldn't
have made it through school if it hadn't been for Mr. Kitzmiller. Kenneth
retired after teaching for 26 years.

Kenneth was a master carpenter and took on many ambitious projects including
building his own house, a 25 foot cabin cruiser that he used for fishing on
Two Buttes Lake, and a Mustang II airplane which he flew. His favorite
hobby was building toys and giving them away or selling them at craft shows.
He also built many fine pieces of furniture for family and friends. He
helped his son-in-law plumb his house in one day. Any project he started,
he saw it through to completion in short and efficient order.

Kenneth loved to tell stories. A favorite one was this. During training in
the Army Air Force, the Cadets were supposed to fly direct points from one
town to another, over an oil field then back to base, staying fifty feet off
the ground. Cadets took off from base every three minutes. There was a
cabin along the route, which Kenneth buzzed, and a lady came running out of
the cabin and shook her broom at him. Continuing on his flight, he then
decided to zigzag in between the oil field derricks for fun. He felt proud
of his new flying skills, but later learned that all the other cadets had
done the same things.

A story a bit closer to home occurred one night when Kenneth and Mary were
living on the Farm. He returned home from a meeting, and the dog, old Mike,
was plowing the dirt with his nose with his feet sticking straight out in
front of him. Kenneth thought this was so funny, because the dog had been
sprayed by a skunk. However, when Kenneth opened the door to go into the
house, the dog ran inside between his legs, spreading the smell everywhere.
Mary threw all the windows open to let the smell out. It wasn't so funny
after all!

Another story involved one of his Dad's cows that was stuck in the mud at
the lake. Kenneth's Dad had a long rope in the back of the truck and had
Kenneth put it around the cow. They pulled her out with the truck and when
Kenneth took the rope off, the cow, not appreciating her rescuer, took in
after him. He jumped into the cab of the truck and so did the cow. He made
fast work of getting out. Kenneth's Dad hee-hawed with laughter.

All in all it was a fun life for Kenneth. He enjoyed fishing, boating, and
skiing on Two Buttes Lake with family and friends. He loved flying his
airplane around the country side and in between the peaks of the Two Buttes
Mountain. He had many happy memories of teaching school and raising his
daughters. But most of all he enjoyed watching his grand and great -grand
children growing up and going to their ballgames, school and 4-H events, or
helping them with a woodworking project. Kenneth also enjoyed going to the
Methodist Church in Two Buttes and had many friends there.

On February 4, 2011, Kenneth entered the Long Term Care Center in
Springfield. There he received the best of care and was shown great love
and respect from everyone. He made many new friends and got reacquainted
with several of his former students who worked there.

He accepted the Lord Jesus as his savior and spoke many times of his desire
to be with his wife in heaven. Mary preceded Kenneth in death in 2007 after
nearly 64 years of marriage.

He taught his family many things; among them are to conduct their lives with
respect and responsibility to others and to their property, to always be
honest and trustworthy, to make the best of every situation and to love life
and people.

Others preceding him in death were his parents Ed and Cecil Kitzmiller;
brothers Harold, Robert, and William Kitzmiller; sisters Frances and Roberta
Kitzmiller. In-laws Walter and Dora Lee; brothers-in-law Melvin Davis,
Leroy Cockrum, Leonard, Alfred, Alvin, Eugene and Henry Lee, Jim Page, Wade
Depew and Tom Thomas. Sisters-in-law Madoline and Edna Kitzmiller, Dolly
Depew, Eva Thomas, Alice and LaVada Lee, and Beatrice Ritzman.

Left to mourn are: Daughters Mary Lee Turner of Wiley and Patricia and
husband Lynn Bitner of Walsh. Grandchildren: Dusty and Sherrilyn Turner of
Springfield, Scott and Staci Smith and Curtis and Araceli Turner of Wiley,
Danny and Lori Senor of Lamar, Jeremy and Erin Viermann of Amarillo, TX and
Chance and Lori Bitner of Kansas City, MO. Great grandchildren: Bryan and
Sharee, Larissa, Lara, Christopher, Keaton and Elise Turner; Casey, Cailee,
Codey and Cole Smith; Jerrin, Jaxson, Jadon, and Jace Viermann, Eden and
Aydree Bitner, and Sarah Senor. Sister Eileen Cockrum, brother-in-law Ray
and wife Marilyn Lee, sisters-in-law Ella Page, Betty and husband Clinton
Reynolds, Rose, Willeen and Louise Lee and numerous nieces and nephews.