Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameWillis “Lee” Kilgore 
Birth24 May 1935, Bucyrus, Crawford Co, OH
Census23 Apr 1940, Bellville, Richland Co, OH
Memoroll#3134, pg 11
Death14 Jan 2017, Mansfield, Richland Co, OH
MemoMansfield Hospital
Burial18 Jan 2017, Bellville Cem, Bellville, Richland Co, OH
ReligionPresbyterian
FatherClark F. Kilgore (1906-1977)
MotherPauline Helen Mollencopf (1909-1996)
Misc. Notes
Listed with his parents at age 4 in 1940.
[Obituary] Mansfield News Journal - 17 Jan 2017
BELLVILLE: Willis Lee Kilgore went to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon, January 14, 2017 in Ohio Health MedCentral Mansfield Hospital surrounded by family. He was 81.
He was born May 24, 1935 in Bucyrus to parents Clark & Pauline (Mollenkopf) Kilgore. After he was graduated from Bellville High School with the class of 1953 as valedictorian, he attended The Ohio State University and earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 1958. He was a Boy Scout leader, an Eagle Scout and served his country by joining the Air National Guard.
Lee worked for IBM under a private contract for NASA as an engineer from 1959-1963 and worked on the instrument unit of the Saturn Launch Vehicle of the Apollo Lunar Program. He was recognized following the Apollo 16 Mission for finding and solving a problem with the instrument unit rate gyro signal during the final launch countdown. He also worked many years for the American Red Cross.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Bellville having served as Trustee and was also a Trustee of the Bellville Jefferson Township Historical Society. In spare time, he took pleasure in traveling having been to France, Italy, England, Germany and Switzerland. He was a master crossword puzzle solver and enjoyed time with friends and family and his voice could always be heard singing.
He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann Kilgore of Bellville; daughters Kathleen “K” (Wade) Voeltz of Chandler, AZ and Sharon (Bob) Grissim of Huntsville, AL; step-children Janet Dearth, Laura (Jon) Schoff, Creighton (Shirley) Dearth, Kevin (Laura) Dearth, Linda (Charley) Charlton and Kara (John) Thompson; 21 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren as well as extended family.
In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lee & Cora Kilgore, who helped raise him.
The Kilgore family will receive friends Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Presbyterian Church of Bellville, Ohio where a memorial service honoring Lee’s life will begin immediately at 11 a.m. Pastor Ron Walker will speak. Burial will be in Bellville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lee’s memory to the Presbyterian Church of Bellville, Ohio may be made at the funeral home.
[Obituary] Mansfield News Journal - 17 Jan 2017
BELLVILLE: Willis Lee Kilgore went to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon, January 14, 2017 in Ohio Health MedCentral Mansfield Hospital surrounded by family. He was 81.
He was born May 24, 1935 in Bucyrus to parents Clark & Pauline (Mollenkopf) Kilgore. After he was graduated from Bellville High School with the class of 1953 as valedictorian, he attended The Ohio State University and earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 1958. He was a Boy Scout leader, an Eagle Scout and served his country by joining the Air National Guard.
Lee worked for IBM under a private contract for NASA as an engineer from 1959-1963 and worked on the instrument unit of the Saturn Launch Vehicle of the Apollo Lunar Program. He was recognized following the Apollo 16 Mission for finding and solving a problem with the instrument unit rate gyro signal during the final launch countdown. He also worked many years for the American Red Cross.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Bellville having served as Trustee and was also a Trustee of the Bellville Jefferson Township Historical Society. In spare time, he took pleasure in traveling having been to France, Italy, England, Germany and Switzerland. He was a master crossword puzzle solver and enjoyed time with friends and family and his voice could always be heard singing.
He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann Kilgore of Bellville; daughters Kathleen “K” (Wade) Voeltz of Chandler, AZ and Sharon (Bob) Grissim of Huntsville, AL; step-children Janet Dearth, Laura (Jon) Schoff, Creighton (Shirley) Dearth, Kevin (Laura) Dearth, Linda (Charley) Charlton and Kara (John) Thompson; 21 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren as well as extended family.
In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lee & Cora Kilgore, who helped raise him.
The Kilgore family will receive friends Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Presbyterian Church of Bellville, Ohio where a memorial service honoring Lee’s life will begin immediately at 11 a.m. Pastor Ron Walker will speak. Burial will be in Bellville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lee’s memory to the Presbyterian Church of Bellville, Ohio may be made at the funeral home.