Col. Ernest Kitchens went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday January 22, 2015 at 3:05 p.m. He is preceded in death by his father, Ernest, and mother, Myrtle; as well as three sisters and one brother. Ernest is survived by his wife and soul mate of 63 years, Jacqueline Kitchens, of Panorama Village, Texas; daughter Alexandra and husband Gerry Powell of Petal, Mississippi; son Michael and wife Michelle of Panorama Village, Texas; grandchildren Erik Kitchens and wife Kelly of Elizabethton, Tennessee; Tyler Powell and wife Kelly of Brandon, Mississippi and granddaughter Paige Powell and fiancé Conner Estess of Petal, Mississippi; niece Natalie Cave and husband Brent of Oak Ridge, Texas; great-grandchildren; Lindsey, Brittany, Aubrey, Nash Audrey; as well as numerous cousins, uncles and nephews. Ernest was born in Meridian, Mississippi the 26th of August 1928. He graduated from Mississippi Southern College (now known as Southern Miss) in 1951 where he was inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame. Ernest was a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam; serving in Europe, Korea and Japan. While in Vietnam; his most prized awards were the Combat Infantry Badge in the Department of the Army General; and Staff Identification Badge. He was also awarded the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Air Medal, Army Accommodation Medal, and other campaign service medals. Colonel Kitchen’s second career was with the Texas Department of Corrections Justice Division at The Walls Unit in Huntsville, Texas and retired as Director of Fixed Assets. He was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church in Conroe, Texas as well as an active member of the Panorama Lions Club, Panorama Country Club, The Association of the United States Army and the Retired Officers Association. He also gave his time to The Friendship Center and Conroe Regional Medical Center. The family will celebrate the legacy of Ernest Kitchens on Monday January 26th, 2015 at 11:00am at First Presbyterian Church of Conroe. Visitation will be held the same day from 9:00am to 11:00am. Burial will follow in Garden Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Ernest's request is instead for donations to be made to First Presbyterian Church of Conroe, Texas Capital Improvement Fund, or to University of Southern Mississippi – 118 College Drive #5210, USM Foundation, Hattiesburg, MS 39406. Please make checks payable to USM Foundation in Memory of Col. Ernest Kitchens ROTC Scholarship. To leave written tributes for the family visit our website at www.cashnerconroe.com.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18