Lt. Col. Jimmy W. Kilbourne, Sr., USAF, Ret., 83, and his beloved son-in-law, Michael K. Mercer, 59, both of Stephens City, Virginia died in a tragic motor vehicle accident involving a drug impaired, drunk driver.
Lt. Col. Kilbourne was born in 1934 in Roda, Virginia, the son of the late Tug and Dora Kilbourne. He graduated from Whitesburg High School in Whitesburg, Kentucky and earned a Master’s degree in Information Systems from University of Southern California. Mr. Kilbourne was a career United States Air Force veteran, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, earning pilots wings in 1954 and later a flight instructor rating. After an assignment at the Pentagon he graduated from the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy and had additional assignments at Headquarters US EUCOM, Stuttgart, Germany, and HQS USAF Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base.
He was a highly decorated veteran receiving two Silver Stars and three Distinguished Flying Crosses as an A-1E Skyraider “Sandy” pilot with the 602nd Fighter Squadron in Southeast Asia in 1967, and received twenty-four military decorations altogether. Jimmy would never give up while on a rescue mission and fought to bring everyone home. He wrote of these missions and other pilot rescue missions in World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam in his book “Escape and Evasion: 17 True Stories of Downed Pilots Who Made It Back.” He was awarded the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Award for his poem “He is America” and had recently finished his second novel.
After retiring from the military Lt. Col. Kilbourne served as the speech writer for the Director of the FAA and continued as a Flight instructor up until his untimely death. He taught pilots for 64 years operating a flight training school at The Winchester Regional Airport.
Mr. Kilbourne was an Auctioneer, a member of Moose Lodge 1283, VFW Post #2123 where he was past Commander, Winchester Civil Air Patrol, Winchester Regional Airport Council, VUMS (Veterans of Underage Military Service), Izaak Walton League of Winchester, Gemological Institute of America as a GIA, 32nd Degree Mason, The Winchester Country Club, and past member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. He attended First Presbyterian Church of Winchester.
He married Charlotte Anne Maggard on September 30, 1956 at Vance Airforce Base, Enid, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death in 2017.
Surviving are a daughter, Vicki Kilbourne Mercer and her children, James Augustus Mercer, III and Sarah Anne Mercer of Stephens City, Virginia; son, LTC(Ret) Jimmy W. Kilbourne, Jr. (Sheila) and their children, Jimmy (Jay) W. Kilbourne, III and Virginia (Ginna) Marlene Kilbourne of Staunton, Virginia; son, Charles Edward Kilbourne of Winchester, Virginia.
Along with his parents and wife, Lt. Col. Kilbourne was preceded in death by brothers, Walt and Frank Kilbourne and Charles Combs.
Cherishing his memory are his brother Al Howard and his best friends Jim Stevens, Harriet Kibler, Rosemary Halsey and the Kansas sisters.
A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at 6 pm Tuesday, January 29th, at Omps Reception Center, Amherst Chapel with Reverend Dr. Dan McCoig officiating.
A graveside service with full military honors will be conducted Thursday, July 25th, at Arlington National Cemetery. Please arrive at 8 am for the 9 am service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Youth Flight Program, c/o Winchester Squadron Civil Air Patrol, 459 Bufflick Road, Winchester, Virginia 22602.
Please gather your courage and love and take car keys away from impaired drivers.