Leonard Oscar Kitchens, Jr.'s Obituary
Leonard Oscar Kitchens, Jr., son of Leonard Oscar Kitchens, Sr. and Myrtis Virginia Couch Kitchens, passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Leonard was the first child and first son, born to Leonard and Myrtis, on Friday, January 26, 1923, in the Western Heights section of Atlanta, Georgia. Leonard was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Edna Viola Kirkpatrick Kitchens, on Saturday, November 9th, 1991; his beloved parents Leonard, Sr. on Tuesday, April 18th, 1967 and Myrtis on Wednesday, August 28th, 1996; his precious brother Jefferson Ray on Wednesday, April 18th, 1984, and his wife, Betty Hogue Kitchens on Tuesday, May 15, 2012; and great-niece, Ms. Kay Herring on Wednesday, December 1, 1999. Leonard is survived by one daughter, Judith Ann Kitchens Howard and her husband, Joseph Claude Howard, Jr. of Mableton; and one son, Leonard Keith Kitchens and his wife Peggy Ann of Lithia Springs, Georgia. Leonard, Jr. was blessed to have four grandchildren. They are, in birth order, Brandon Lee Ward and wife Susanne of Sugar Hill; Tiffany Nichole Kitchens of Newnan; Courtney Elyse Ward of Mableton; and, Leonard Brett Kitchens of Temple; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob and Addison Ward. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Doris (Dot) V. Kitchens Holbrook and her husband, Harold J. Holbrook of Mableton; and one brother, Mr. William Bruce Kitchens, Sr. and his wife Patricia G. of Douglasville, Georgia (Paulding County); one aunt, Mrs. Nellie Couch Medlin of Smyrna, Georgia; and, many wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins. Leonard, Jr. attended school in Atlanta until he moved to Mableton with his family in 1939. There he attended Mableton High School (now Mableton Elementary School), graduating in 1940. He was voted "Most Athletic" and loved baseball. He loved it so much, he asked the principal at nearby Austell High School (present site of Austell Primary School) if he could come to school there so he could play another year. So, he graduated a second time in 1941, being offered a baseball scholarship to Oglethorpe University. Times were still difficult, so he went to work at Southern Railway Company instead. He worked there for forty-two plus years, retiring in 1983, with "intermission" to fight in World War II. He remembered vividly the radio broadcast of the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor; he was at work on that Sunday when he heard the news. Leonard, Jr. joined the Army Air Force in Marietta, Georgia the day after he received his draft notice in November of 1942. He was a member of the Army Air Corps, 7th Air Force,30th Heavy Bombardment Group, 27th Squadron. Training included basic at Biloxi; radio-mechanics at Great Lakes in Chicago; radar and jungle training in Boca Raton, Florida; and further training in the territory of Hawaii. He excelled in all that he attempted, and received accolades in all areas of assignments, even taken out of combat zones for further training at Hickham Field. In brief summation, he served in five combat zones in the Pacific Theater, having been in the Marshall and Mariana Islands, which included Tarawa, Kwajalein and Saipan. Leonard was a loving and gentle Christian man and a faithful member of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon. He will be sorely missed by all. Burial will be in the Kitchens Family Plot Cemetery which adjoins the Mt. Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery. The funeral service will be held at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 24, 2013 with first cousin, Pastor Doug Couch and Pastor Dr. Randal Whitten officiating. Family visitation will be at Davis-Struempf Funeral Home in Austell, Georgia from 4-8 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013.
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