Keith "Red" E. Paddock

Keith Elton Paddock, age 96 years, six months, and nine days, passed away on August 18, 2020. After a remarkable rebound from a COVID-19 infection, his tired body ultimately gave way to peaceful everlasting rest.

“Red”, his nickname for most of his life, was born in a small house on the Paddock family farm near Oak Park, Minnesota on February 10, 1924. He walked to a one room schoolhouse until he completed eighth grade. Red then rode the school bus to Foley, Minnesota where he lettered in football and baseball. One of his favorite stories to tell his kids was how during his senior year he and his brother George, a sophomore, helped their team play an undefeated season. He even made it to All State that year. Some folks say the team had no points scored against them that season. Some say only one scored against them. Either way, it was a memorable season. Summer “vacations” for Red were spent working as a hired hand for area farmers, living the entire summer with the family. He grew up learning how to drive teams of horses and mules, repairing broken farm equipment, riding his giant Percheron stallion, Duke, bareback, wrestling with his older and younger brothers, and picking on his little sister. In those Minnesota days, he had tousled red hair and freckles, often wearing overalls dusted with barn dirt and smeared with machinery grease, as he developed his strong work ethic and skill sets that would follow him all of his days.

Graduation from Foley High School came in 1942. Following a short time driving a truck for his father’s milk hauling business, Red began his long path of service to his country in December 1942. It was World War II time. Red enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, a branch of the Army and precursor to the United States Air Force. It was then that he had his first visit to his future long time home, Florida. He attended basic training in St. Petersburg where he was housed at the glamorous Vinoy Hotel. He loved to tell the story of the Minnesota boy who learned to march on the gulf beaches of Florida. Red served in Italy during the war participating in the North Apennines, Po Valley, Air Combat Balkans campaign. After the war he was a civilian long enough to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Moe, back home in Oak Park and decide the employment opportunities were better in the military. In 1948 he joined the newly formed United States Air Force where he trained on multiple types of large cargo aircraft as flight engineer. Back then, the flight engineer was much like the computers on modern-day aircraft. They would monitor all the systems on the plane. That would free up the pilots to concentrate on just the flying. Except today the computers don’t necessarily fix problems. Red would notice a problem with an engine and climb through the space in the wing to repair the problem on the engine all while the aircraft was bouncing around in flight with one failed engine. He flew on C- 54s, C- 97’s, C- 124’s and C-133’s. The work he seemed most proud of during his Air Force time was his participation in the Berlin Airlift. He sometimes worked 20 hour days of intense flying, delivering supplies to the blockaded citizens of Berlin. The flying required focused concentration and precision. It demanded much from both the crew and the aircraft. The success certainly generated an understandable pride.

Some of Red and Eileen’s assignments were at bases in Great Falls, Montana, Honolulu, Hawaii, West Palm Beach, Florida, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Dover, Delaware, and of course Orlando, Florida where he and Eileen would settle when he retired. It was in West Palm Beach where their two children were born.

The time for retirement came in the summer of 1965. He and Eileen return to the house they had built during a previous assignment in Orlando. He worked a short time driving a truck, hauling mobile homes and even as a convenience store clerk while he waited for a position to open at the post office. He worked at the United States Post Office until retirement in 1979.

In those years he enjoyed spending time golfing, propagating plants, traveling with the family around the country in their travel trailer, maintaining and repairing the family automobiles and playing pool at VFW post 4287. There he held numerous committee and officer positions. In the 70s, he was also able to instill in his son Brad, a sense of duty and love of country. His son joined the Air Force after high school, following in his father’s footsteps, now a retired Air Force Veteran himself.

After their kids left home, he and Eileen often drove around the country, visiting relatives and friends from the military days. One of their favorite stops was Nevada. Red had such a good head for numbers that card games were fun, and often winning undertakings for him. He was a dedicated student of blackjack.

Eileen’s health gradually deteriorated and in 1997, they sold their Orlando home and moved to Key West, Florida to be near their daughter Cheryl, so Red could have a little help taking care of her increasing needs. At that time Red’s daughter, who had also inherited the love of aviation, was flying her own little plane. They enjoyed many hours of time together in the sky. He amazed her with his recall of flight specifications from 50 years ago.

After almost 53 years of marriage, Eileen passed away and Red decided to return to Orlando. He met new friends who called him Keith. It made sense; his hair was no longer red. To this day you can tell if someone met him after 1999 - they usually call him Keith.

It was there in Orlando, around the year 2000 that a special relationship became serious between Keith and Betty Hood. In her, he found a person with whom he had so much in common. They had a youthful attraction for one another. It was an exciting new love for both of them. They traveled around in their motorhome and moved together to a lovely retirement community. They shared many happy and content times for the 20 years they had together.

In late June 2020, they both got COVID 19. Both were rushed to the hospital on July 3, 2020. Betty passed away on July 29th. Keith beat the virus and even made it out of the hospital to a rehabilitation facility. On August 18, 20 days after losing his Betty, his body was so weakened that he passed peacefully in his sleep.

He was preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Mabel Paddock and infant son Terry Keane Paddock

Keith is survived by:

His daughter Cheryl Schultz, husband Scott, of Litchfield Minnesota and grandsons Gregory and Eric

His son Brad, wife Jan, of Eustis Florida and grandchildren Heidi and Jonathan

Brothers

Norman Paddock, of Phoenix Arizona

George Paddock, wife Rita, of Phoenix Arizona

Sister

Betty Lou Stob, of Milaca Minnesota

Arrangements made by Woodlawn

Private Service date and time to follow

In lieu of flowers the family invites you to please consider making a donation in his name to the Gary Sinise foundation.

Condolences may be offered at

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/gotha-fl/keith-paddock-9317130

Military Awards

•American Theater Service Medal

•Good Conduct Medal (multiple)

•European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Service Medals

•National Defense Service Medal

•Air Force Longevity Service Award (multiple)

•Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (multiple)

•Noncommissioned officer’s academy ribbon

•CACMB SOG-27 Hq 1607 ATW 1964