John "Jack" William Kidd

Capt. John W. Kidd, USN Captain John William Kidd, USN, known to friends and family as “Jack," and to the Naval Aviation community by his call sign “Starbuck," "came in for his final approach"on June 10th. He passed away after a long stretch of poor health, followed by a swift decline after fracturing his hip in a fall. He was born to John Rice Kidd and Elanore O'Connor Kidd, on August 21, 1927 in Philadelphia. Since he was a boy of only five years old, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to grow up to be a Navy pilot. After graduating as valedictorian from Bensalem High School, he went on to live his dream of flying for much of his adult life. His impressive Naval career, as a pilot and meteorologist, spanned 31 remarkable years. Jack entered the military as a teenager towards the end of World War II and by the end of his service in the Navy, he'd worked in many capacities. A few of his many accomplishments included serving as a line officer aboard a carrier, being a flight instructor in Pensacola, an essential meteorologist as part of "Operation Hardtack" during the 1958 Nuclear Testing in Ewenetok, and later flying as a "Hurricane Hunter" while stationed in Guam during the early 1960's. He was also the CO in London, England on North Audley Street in the early 1970's, a Naval representative with NATO, as well as a Navy meteorologist with the North American Weather Organization. He very reluctantly retired in 1976 leaving the military, and the career he had so loved, due to failing vision. For the last several years of his colorful military career he wore the four gold stripes and a gold star, of Navy Captain. Accompanying him on the 25 Navy moves around the world was his wife of sixty four years, Bette Lou Owens-Kidd and their growing family. Bette still resides in their home in Coronado, where they retired. For a few years after retirement from the Navy Jack continued to work in weather research and stayed involved with his passion of flying, forming his own weather research company. For fifteen years after retirement Jack and Bette were very active members of the local volunteer organization, "Project Wildlife,” rescuing, caring for and saving hundreds of various species of wild critters. As tremendous as past challenges were serving during World War II and Vietnam, in the later years of his life he found his greatest challenge was learning to live with complete blindness. He was helped during these difficult years by close family members and some of the dearest helpers he could have wished for. His helpers were his eyes to the world, and became some of the family's dearest friends. Among them were Becky Baker, Gail Bowyer, Mary Grace, Rita Taylor, Jackie Poole, Kathy Campbell, Tanya Withowski, Debbie Arnold, Rolla Linde, Michael Denson, and Suzanne Basore. Jack is survived by his wife Bette; his children Dr. John Edward Kidd of Coronado, Diana Lou Kidd of Coronado, and Jon Daniel Kidd of San Diego; a sister Diane Seabridge of Virginia; and grandchildren Jonathan Barker, Christina Kidd, Heather Clancy and Shannon Clancy; along with several nieces and nephews. Predeceasing Jack were his infant son Francis William Kidd; his parents John Rice Kidd and Elanore O'Connor Kidd; and his sister Florence Buck. Visitation is Sunday, July 17 at 1 p.m., continuing with a closed casket, from 2 to 5 p.m. Chapel services will be Monday, July 18 at 12:30 at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, followed by burial with military honors at 2:30 p.m. at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego.