Personnel

CREW



KEN LEMMONS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CREW CHIEFS ASSIGNED TO THE 100TH.---IN CHARGE OF "PICCADILLY LILY", "MASON-DIXON", "She has-ta" ,"King Bee",AND "BOEING BELLE".  RECALLED DURING THE KOREAN WAR AND HANDLED F-86S.







Kenneth A. Lemmons, 81 



Loving husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle and God-loving man



 ROCKFORD -- Kenneth Allison Lemmons, 81, of Rockford died in his home Friday morning, Dec. 17, 2004, after a lengthy struggle with COPD. Born Dec. 29, 1922, to Arch Clayton and Hassel Allison Lemmons in northeast Arkansas; the second of four children. After clearing land, farming and learning the mechanical trade from general farm work, Ken volunteered for the military on Dec. 15, just after Pearl Harbor. His brother, Cleatus had already received his draft notice. After training, Ken married his childhood sweetheart, Fonda Ragan and in 1943 shipped out for England where he spent 1943-45 at Thorpe-Abbotts Army Air Base near Diss, East Anglia, England with the 351st Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, 8th Army Air Corps as ground chief for such notable B-17 Bombers as 'Piccadilly Lily', 'Mason and Dixon' and 'Boeing Belle', to mention a few. He was a true hero amidst a generation of heroes. Ken was the subject of a 1999 book penned by Cindy Goodman and Jan Riddling, historians of the 100th Bomb Group, named 'The Forgotten Man', his story about the unsung ground crew heroes that kept the bombers in the air day after day during World War II. He never forgot his love of this country, his devotion to his family or his faith in the Lord. Longtime member of North Park Church of Christ. His entire life was filled with giving to others and he left little room to give to himself. Moving to Rockford in the summer of 1948 with his family and in-laws in tow, Ken carved out a living working at Rockford Clutch Division of Borg-Warner from 1948 to 1963 when he again spread his wings and started a business in Memphis, Tenn. After a short year, he returned to Rockford Clutch and remained in the position of Service Manager until 1968 when he again left to seek his dream of a family business. In 1973, with $4,000 and a ton of sweat equity, he started Ken's Rebuilders Supply, selling used automotive parts to rebuilders around the country and rebuilt clutches to local repair shops. His goal was to provide a small business for his immediate family and he reached that goal retiring in 1987. The business is still in the family, employs 32 much-appreciated and loved employees, and its Board, consisting of a second and third generation of Lemmons, now manufactures clutches under the name NACD-North American Clutch and Driveline Inc. Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Fonda; son, Dan (Bonnie) Lemmons of Cherry Valley; daughter Michelle (Tom) Walker of Loves Park; grandsons, Derek (Angie) Lemmons of Machesney Park, Darren (Angie) Lemmons of Rockton, Ryley Walker of Loves Park; granddaughter, Raegan Walker of Loves Park; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Cleatus Lemmons of Sikeston, Mo., and Albert Lemmons of Nashville, Tenn.; beloved sister, Shirley Anne (Sam) Stansbury of Nashville, Tenn.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents. The family wishes to thank Dr. Willard Moore and his staff for all of their kindness and care. Dad loved you all. Thanks also to Dr. Kathryn Andersen and her staff, the wonderful ladies of VNA Hospice and much loved caregivers, Larisa and Aunt Jo. 



Services at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, in North Park Church of Christ with Dan Boggs to officiate. Burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. Visitation from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, in Delehanty Funeral Home Ltd., 401 River Lane, Loves Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Helping Hands Food Pantry. 12-19-2