Virgil Morris Kinnamon – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force

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From a contemporary press report:

Virgil Morris Kinnamon, 84, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who had a civilian career as a computer systems analyst with the Army Department, died after a stroke February 6, 2000 at his home at the Arleigh Burke Pavilion in McLean.

Colonel Kinnamon served 23 years in the military, beginning with the Army Air Forces in 1941. About midway through World War II, he was assigned to the 491st Bomber Squadron in Chakulia, India, where he was command pilot of a B-25 Mitchell bomber in 75 combat missions.

He was an aircraft commander in the Korean War, too. Stationed in Japan, he flew 74 combat missions in a C-54 aircraft transporting troops, prisoners of war, medical evacuees and supplies.

Among his postwar duties were staff assignments at the Pentagon and chief of operations of the statistical services division for the Iceland Air Defense Force.

His military honors included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

Shortly after his military retirement in 1964, he began a 14-year civil service career with the Army Department. He retired from the Army Military Personnel Center in Alexandria in 1979 as chief of operations.

Colonel Kinnamon was a longtime Arlington resident. He was born on a family farm in Sylvia, Kansas, and as a young man attended Kansas State University, where he was studying to become a math and science teacher, and learned to fly a plane in a civilian pilot training program.

He graduated from Kansas State University in 1953 and received a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University.

He was a member of the Protestant Church of Christ in Falls Church.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Iona Christine Kinnamon of McLean; four children, Jeanne Lawrence of New York City, Wayne Kinnamon of San Antonio, Gary Kinnamon of Arlington and Denise Ellison of Sterling; two brothers; a sister; and five grandchildren.

KINNAMON, VIRGIL M., LT. COL. USAF (Ret.)

n Sunday, February 6, 2000, at The Arleigh Burke Pavillion, McLean, VA, VIRGIL M. KINNAMON of Arlington, VA, beloved husband of Iona Christine Kinnamon; dear father of Jeanne K. Lawrence, Wayne L. Kinnamon, Gary L. Kinnamon and Denise K. Ellison. He is also survived by his brothers, Wilbur G. Kinnamon and Lynn R. Kinnamon; his sister, Vida Clothier; his grandchildren, Erica and Tyler Kinnamon, Laura and Lynne Ellison and Stephanie Lawrence. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 15 at Falls Church Church of Christ, 6149 Leesburg Pk., at 11 a.m. Interment Arlington
National Cemetery with full military honors at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Rainbow Christian Services, c/o Falls Church Church of Christ, 6149 Leesburg Pk., Falls Church, VA 22044.

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