OBIT: William P. KEPHART, Lt., 1942, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

WILLIAM P. KEPHART

Lt. W. P. Kephart War Casualty
Grandson of The Late W. H. Dill and Mrs. Emma Dill of Meyersdale

  "Killed in Action" were the sad words of the telegram received by Mrs. A. P. 
Kephart at the home of her mother, Mrs. W. H. Dill, last Friday morning from the 
office of the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, breaking the tragic news to her and 
her husband of the fate of their son, Lieut. William P. Kephart, pilot.  Though 
the actual circumstances of his death were not revealed it is supposed that he 
met his death while on duty in the Pacific theater of war.  His parents knew 
that at one time his plane was attached to the carrier Wasp, which recently was 
reported sunk.  However, the official message notifying them of his death stated 
that his body was temporarily interred where he fell, indicating he was in 
action over land, and not at sea.
  This is the first war fatality to come close home to Meyersdale people, and 
the many friends of Mrs. Dill and Dr. and Mrs. Kephart here are saddened by the 
news of the loss of this young man, who as a child often visited at the home of 
his grandparents, the late Wm. H. Dill and Mrs. Emma Dill.  Dr. and Mrs. Kephart 
are residents of Greensboro, N.C., and own and operate a fine girls' summer camp 
at Blowing Rock, in the mountains of that state.  They also have a daughter, 
Margaret, married and now living in Washington, D.C.
  Mrs. Kephart was spending a few weeks here with her mother while Dr. Kephart 
was on a business trip in Iowa.  Since the news of the loss of the Wasp the 
Kepharts were much concerned about the safety of their son.  The death message 
was delivered to the home of Mrs. Dill on Friday when Mrs. Kephart was in 
Connellsville.  The message was relayed to her there and to Dr. Kephart, who 
rushed to her in Connellsville.  Together they returned to Meyersdale Sunday and 
left at once for Washington in order to be the ones to break the sad news to 
their daughter, Margaret.
  Lieut. Kephart, who made the supreme sacrifice for his home and country at the 
age of 27, joined the Navy Air Corps shortly after his graduation from college.  
He received his training at Pensacola, Fla., and at San Diego, Calif.  After 
receiving his wings he was assigned to Norfolk as an instructor.  After the 
United States entered the war he was called to active duty.  His last visit to 
his parents was in August when he paid a brief visit to them in North Carolina.

Meyersdale Republican, November 12, 1942