KENNY KINGDON 1951 - 1967 PILOT AMA MKC While going through some old home movies, I found a clip with Kenny Kingdon taken at Central City CO on a "Dead Day" sightseeing trip we made. I managed to crop it out as a fuzzy JPG but you might want to include it with his obit. -Frosty Frost (12/20/04) Did Kenny recently died? I don't find anything in my files on him. -Jake Lamkins (12/20/04) No, He died quite a few years ago, maybe before the FAL/CEN merger from a heart attack, I think. When the picture was taken he was the Captain on the trip and I was probably a 2nd year F/O. Nice guy but nervous in the cockpit! He was around Bill Blackmon's seniority. -Frosty Frost (12/21/04) Email to FL Pilots e-list: Kenny is not on Ace's 'Gone West' List. Do any of you have more info on Kenny? Best wishes for the Holidays, -Jake Lamkins (12/21/04) I never flew with Kenny, but met him a few times. He always had a reputation as a good pilot (perhaps a bit nervous with a new F/O), and a gentleman. I believe he retired earlier than the CEN/FAL merger because of a medical condition. I spent 1 ½ years in the CEN training department and never heard anything negative about Kenny. -Clyde Hart (12/21/04) Dont know much about Kenny Kingdon, as he was before the merger, and I think he had a car wreck, or a stroke. He was incapacitated for several years, and Dan Gunn (Pilot) lived in AMA and flew with Kenny and stayed in touch with him for many years. Maybe I can help but most of those guys are now "Flown West", and not much known about them. I will try again, and let you know if you want. -Bill Blackmon (12/21/07) I had not known of Kenny Kingdon. I came with the original Frontier prior to the merger. So, all the CN folks I know are ones who came with the merger. -Billy Walker (12/21/04) I have a Kenny Kingdon on my FAL pilot list which numbers 938 pilots. I therefore believe he was with FAL and must have passed away after the FAL/CEN merger. I have his last known address as Amarillo TX. -Ace Avakian (12/21/04) I talked to Dan Gunn, in Energy, Tx. and he too is unable to give any information on Kenny, and said that he would check with others in the AMA area and see if he could contribute any more info. -Bill Blackmon (12/22/04) Nothing definitive on death so will hold off on posting an obituary for the time being. -Jake Lamkins (12/24/04) Yes, I remember Kenny well. He and I flew quite a few trips in the 3 together. I will just pass on some of the things I do remember most. He lived in Amarillo TX, the base was closed and we flew out of MKC. His favorite car was the VW bus. When we had a overnight in Amarillo, he and I would drive out and see the sights. I would be a very rich man today if I had taken his advice back then and started small with mutual funds, but I am still better off flying with and knowing him. The years we flew were about 1964, 1965. This part I heard after leaving Kansas City. Kenny retired and was on a trip with his wife in the VW bus and Kenny was asleep in the back with his wife driving. Now I am not sure of this but I was told his wife fell asleep driving and Kenny was hurt or perhaps killed in the accident. Probably about 1970 or so. -Grant Holmes (12/30/07) Thanks for the info, Grant. I still haven't been able to pin it down. The SSDI has this: KENNETH P KINGDON 12 Nov 1916 31 Oct 2001 79106 (Amarillo, Potter, TX) SSN issued in Michigan The date of death doesn't fit what Frosty said but it's a possiblilty. Was Kenny from Michigan? Would he have been 54 in 1970? -Jake Lamkins (12/30/04) You may have something. I seem to rember Kenny being from the midwest. I think he stayed in Texas as long as I kept track of him though. Sombody in Texas should have stayed in touch with him. Michigan is a good start. Thanks Jake. Grant Holmes (12/31/04) I called the number I had (last known) in Amarillo in re to Kingdon. The party answering said they did not know anything about a Kingdon and that they've had this phone number for quite some time. Best Wishes Ace Avakian (1/27/05) I think I remember seeing an email from you asking if there was a Captain Kenny Kingdon with CN or FAL. He was with Central .... I've just posted a picture of him on "Yesterday's Pics Page 4" on the website. -Phil Stallings (5/8/05) I have been trying to pin down Kingdon's death but thus far have nothing definite. I copied the pic. -Jake Lamkins (5/9/05) Service Awards 15 years Kenneth P. Kingdon Captain ... Kansas City CN Skywriter dated Sep/Oct 1966 -Jake Lamkins (2/2/06) Still not sure of death so will keep holding off on posting -Jake Lamkins (2/2/06) Found on the web November 10, 2007: Kenneth Paul Kingdon Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Peter's Episcopal Church with the Rev. John Watson, rector, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Kingdon was born in Cullom, Ill., and had been a resident of Amarillo since 1959. He was in the Air Force during World War II and retired as a captain after the war. He re-enlisted and served with the Air Force during the Korean War. After his war service, he was a chemist for Sinclair Oil Co. before becoming a commercial airline pilot for Central Airlines which was later merged into Continental Airlines. He retired in 1967 and was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. He married Ann Kearley on Jan. 15, 1949, in Pasadena. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Kenneth Kingdon Jr. and Keith Edwin Kingdon, both of Houston, and Kevin Floyd Kingdon of Salt Lake City; two daughters, Kathryn Ann Tatum of Salt Lake City and Peggy Ann Jennings of Huntsville; two brothers, John Kingdon of St. Louis, Mich., and Edwin Kingdon of Trinity; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4714 N.W. Fourth Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106. -Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 4, 2001 KENNETH P KINGDON Born 12 Nov 1916 Died 31 Oct 2001 Age 84 At 79106 (Amarillo, Potter, TX) SSN issued in Michigan -SSDI (11/10/07) I remember sending you an e-mail about Kenny Kingdon along with a picture I captured from an old home movie of mine a few moons ago. I've searched my computer for the picture or e-mail but I guess it's gone along with my old hard drive a few years ago. I hope you might have it in your (half!) vast files. -Frosty Frost (11/11/07) Thanks for the additional obit info. Attached are the pix I have in my Kingdon file. Did he go by Ken or Kenny? -Jake Lamkins (11/11/07) Kenny -Frosty Frost (11/12/07) Posted at the FL Club: New memorial webpage CN pilot Kenny Kingdon http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Kenny_Kingdon.html It took quite a bit of research to nail this one down. Kenny's daughter married CN FO RA Jennings who is also Buck Jennings which I have been trying to finalize for several years. -Jake Lamkins (12/7/07)