James Wilburn Kiser, Sr.
October 26, 1921 – September 9, 2006
James Wilburn Kiser, Sr. of 1505 W. Rutledge Ave., went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, at his residence.
Born Oct. 26, 1921, in Grover, N.C., he was the husband of Blanche Davis Kiser and son of the late Noah Walker Kiser and Mabel Daniel Kiser. He attended West End Grammar School and Gaffney High School, graduating Class of 1938.
Jim was working at Carolina Asbestos Co. in Davidson, N.C., when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He resigned his job and enlisted in the Army Air Force on April 8, 1942. He took pilot training at Harmon Flying School (Bruce Field) in Ballinger, Texas, and bombardier training at San Angelo Army Air Field in San Angelo, Texas.
He was a World War II veteran, having own as a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress with the 95th Heavy Bombardment Group, 336th Squadron of the 8th Air Force out of England. He completed 15 missions over the European continent. On March 4, 1944, he was on his 16th mission on the first precision daylight mission to Berlin, when after bombing the target, two engines were destroyed, and his plane could not keep formation. German fighters attacked his plane, three crew members were killed, seven parachuted out of the plane and were captured by the Germans. He was wounded in this attack and received the Purple Heart. He also earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and World War II Medal. He was a member of the Caterpillar Club, his life having been saved by parachuting from a plane.
He was a life member of the American Ex-POW's, VFW and DAV, member of American Legion Post 109, and 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation.
He accepted Christ and was baptized at Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church on Oct. 24, 1951. He transferred membership on March 10, 1957, to First Baptist Mission, which later became Bethany Baptist Church. He served as deacon, treasurer and trustee for a number of years.
He was employed by M. Lowenstein & Sons, and was a rural mail carrier for 28 years at the Gaffney Post Ofce.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Sadie Ann Ballard Kiser; a sister, Frances K. Parris; and a grandson, James Jacob Rice.
Surviving are two daughters, Carol Allen and husband, Dr. G. W. Allen, of Easley; Rebecca Rice and husband, Billy Ray, of Gaffney; a son, James W. Kiser Jr. and wife, Steva, of Gaffney; a stepdaughter, Janice N. Rice and husband, Jack E., of Gaffney; a stepson, Jonathan D. Nash and wife, Cathy of Gaffney; a brother, Walker D. Kiser and wife, Mary Annie, of Shelby; ve grandsons, Russell T. Allen and wife, Mary Elizabeth, of Greenville, Dustin S. Allen of Westminister, Rev. Andrew T. Allen and wife, Cherlon, of Pelzer, Mitchell T. Rice and wife, Holly, of Gaffney, J. Nicholas Kiser of Spartanburg; four granddaughters, Amy Rice Ward and husband, Roger D., Sadie (Sally) E. Rice, Neely A. Kiser, Esq. of Gaffney, and L. Marisa Kiser-Podvin and husband, Jim, of Spartanburg; two stepgranddaughters; Nicole Rice Tallon and husband, Brian, of Greenville, Carole Rice Hill and husband, Troy, of Church Hill, TN; two step-grandsons, Jeffrey and Billy Joe Turner of Gaffney; great-grandchildren, Brayden, Breanna, Lauren and Sarah Allen, Makenzie, Bryson and Ryker Ward; step-great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Elder, Tyler and Dylan Turner, Nolan and Toby James Hill, Anna Kate Tallon and Adaya Bleu Podvin.
Funeral services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Bethany Baptist Church conducted by the Revs. John Goforth and Andrew Allen. Interment will follow in Frederick Memorial Gardens. Military Rites will be by the S.C. State Honor Guard.
Visitation was held Sunday from 4:30-6 p.m. at Blakely Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church, P.O. Box 698, Gaffney, SC, 29342; or to the charity of one's choice.
The family will be at the residence.
Arrangements by Blakely Funeral Home.
Gaffney Ledger, The (SC) - Monday, September 11, 2006