John W Kilmartin

COLUMBIA - John William “Jack” Kilmartin, age 90 years, passed away from natural causes on April 1, 2012, in Columbia, S.C.

Jack was born the second of three sons to Patrick Stephen Kilmartin and Helen Cecelia Trautt on November 30, 1921 in Ridgefield, New Jersey. He graduated from Dwight D. Morrow High School in Englewood, N.J. During the summer vacation of his senior year, he worked as a barker at Palisades Amusement Park in Cliffside, N.J.

After graduation, Jack’s first job was with Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Paterson, N.J. At the start of World War II, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After boot camp, he was stationed at Cherry Point Marine Air Station, in North Carolina. Upon completion of flight school, he was transferred to the Pacific Theatre of War, and assigned to the Fourth Marine Air Wing on Kwajalein Atoll with Transport Squadron VMR 252. During the war, he received two battle stars for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa Campaigns. Soon after the war, he was shipped stateside and discharged from Cherry Point, N.C. His experiences during WWII in the Marine Corps and then the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller left him with many fond memories that lasted throughout his lifetime. He stated, “I feel that Uncle Sam owes me nothing. I owe my country my gratitude and my thanks.”

Jack obtained his real estate license and worked in New York City for two years before heading for sunny Melbourne, Florida in 1948. In 1949, he received a commission with the Federal Aviation Commission in Melbourne. The love of aviation never left him, and in 1952, he purchased a Cessna 140. In 1966, he moved to Ft. Myers.

His faith always kept him close to the church. After a period as lector, he was privileged to serve as minister of the Eucharist. He served in that capacity at the Resurrection of our Lord Church in Ft. Myers.

In retirement, he was active in The Knights of Columbus where he was a 4th Degree Knight and served as Grand Knight of San Carlos Counsel #2595 in 1978. He was a member of The Marine Corps League, and helped with a juvenile prison ministry. He also loved playing the role of Cyrus Teed, the Koreshan founder, during the annual “Ghost Walk” at Koreshan State Park.

Jack is survived by his brother, Patrick Joseph Kilmartin, daughter Nancy E. Kilmartin (Toni) of Ft. Myers, FL; son, John Gregory “Jay” Kilmartin (and his wife, Elizabeth Jones Kilmartin) of Columbia SC, and son, Kevin Jeffrey Kilmartin (Lisa Kilmartin) of Cape Coral, FL; three grandchildren, Ian Parker Kilmartin and Rhys Elizabeth Kilmartin of Columbia, and Riley Michelle Kilmartin of Cape Coral; nieces, Carole Scully and Janice Childs; and nephew, Walter Kilmartin. Jack was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Emmit Kilmartin (2004).

A memorial service will be held at the Catholic Church of the Resurrection of our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Dr., Ft. Myers, Florida, on Saturday, April 28th at 10 a.m. Please join us for a luncheon immediately following the mass at Rene’s on Winkler located at 7050 Winker Rd. 33919. 239-489-4424.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to De LaSalle Academy, P. O. Box 61638, Fort Myers, FL 33906. http://www.delasallefm.org/

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net