Obituary of William Burton Kempton

WILLIAM BURTON KEMPTON of Curtis Road in Searsport, Maine and formerly of Findlay, Ohio, died at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 27, 2009 peacefully at home after a brief illness. He was 91. He was born September 2, 1918 in San Antonio, TX, son of R. S. Kempton and Edna Eisfeld. He married his beloved wife Edna in 1944 in El Paso, Texas. He is survived by two daughters, Bohni Kempton of Searsport, Maine and Gay E. Kempton of Waldo, Maine. He was predeceased by his wife and a brother, Robert S. Kempton. William, better known as Bill, retired as President of Keystone Seneca Wire Cloth Company in Fostoria, OH expanding their business significantly in the United States and Canada. After retirement, he was Director of Charitable Planned Gifts of Findlay College, General Sales Manager for Louisiana Pacific Corp Weather Seal Division in Barberton, OH, Staff Consultant to the President of Centrex Corp. Findlay, OH and President of St. Charles Kitchens of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was a pilot and loved to fly. He served as Captain in the US Army Air Force in WWII flying antisubmarine patrol between the East Coast and South America. He logged in more flying time than any U.S. pilot. He was also Director of Flight Training and Command Pilot. Among many awards, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Presidential commendations. Prior to enlisting, he studied metallurgical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a commentator for US Steel Corp at the 1940 U.S. World's Fair. After the war, he went to work for Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp in Scarsdale, NY and was appointed District Sales Manager for Wickwire Spencer Steel Division, Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp and lived in Wellesley Hills, MA. He was a member of The Christian Science Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts and of the Christian Science Church in Findlay, Ohio. Also he was a member of The Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio. He was a member of the Republican National Committee, The American Legion, the Kiwanis Club, the Commanders Club for Disabled American Veterans and The Heritage Foundation. He was a member of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. He contributed regularly to Boys Town, The Olympics, VFW, Mayo Clinic, Easter Seals, the Reagan Ranch, the Honor Roll of Contributors to Findlay College. Bill believed in the motto, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and lived by it. He will be truly missed. Local funeral services will be held and announced in the spring. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. No visitation will be held. Arrangements are under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. On-line condolences may be placed at www.crabielripostafuneralhome.com.