Ed Kiem's Funeral

Ken Hodges' father-in-law and Debbie Hodges' Father, passed away on August 8th, 2008

Captain Edwin L. Kiem, United States Navy, Retired

Captain Edwin L Kiem, USN Retired, died September 8, 2008 in Orange Park, Fla. following a lengthy illness. He was 91. Born in Brooklyn, New York, August 1917, he spent most of his growing-up years in northern New Jersey. Ed graduated from Milburn, (NJ) High School with honors. After attending Worcester, (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute for two years, he joined the Navy in 1937, qualifying for initial flight training at NAS Squantum, Mass. He went on to complete his flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1938.

t was in the Pensacola Florida sun, that Ed Kiem found his bride, Harriet McIlwain Tompkins. From that time forward, he became a “Native Floridian.”

His character was developed in the tough depression years serving him well as a member of the “Greatest Generation.” Throughout WWII he served as a naval aviator with VP-11 flying the PBY-5 Catalina and with VD-3 flying the PB4Y-1 Liberator in combat operations in the South Pacific. Promoted to Commander shortly after the end of WWII, he enjoyed a remarkably successful career that included five tours as Commanding Officer. Much of his career focused on development and deployment of aerial photography. As Commanding Officer, Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron-62, he flew the supersonic F8U-1P Crusader and proudly wore his 1000mph pin. Captain Kiem retired from the Navy in 1963.

Following military retirement he was employed by Rockwell Aeronautics in Columbus, Ohio, designing the RA-5 Vigilante aircraft. Captain Kiem later returned with his family to Pensacola, Fla. where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Math Education at the University of West Florida. For six years he was a math teacher at Warrington Junior High School before his final retirement in Beach Haven, Warrington, Florida. He enjoyed extensive travel and golf plus volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America and the National Naval Aviation Museum.

His wife, Harriet, predeceased Captain Kiem in 1996.

Ed Kiem is survived by his sister Elizabeth Zezula of Point Pleasant, N.J., five children: Robert Kiem (Anne) of Orange Park, Fla., Betty Herndon (Dave) of Greenville, S. Car., Linda Nolte (Pat) of Springfield, Va., Michael Kiem (Jane) of Orlando, Fla., and Deborah Hodges (Ken) of Tallahassee, Fla. He was most proud of his twelve grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren.

Visitation at the Navy Chapel, NAS Pensacola, Fla., is set for 9:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2008. A memorial service will follow at 10:00 a.m. Military honors will be rendered before interment in Barrancas National Cemetery, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.

In lieu of flowers the Kiem family requests you consider a donation in his honor to the National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, P.O. Box 3104, 1750 Radford Blvd., NAS Pensacola, Fla., 32508-3104 or through www.navalaviationfoundation.org.