“Francis Kieper, 89, of Chappaqua, NY, passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, NY from prostate cancer.

Born February 20, 1918 in Oswego, NY, he was graduated from Oswego State Teachers College in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He moved to Chappaqua in 1940 to teach industrial arts at the Robert E. Bell School, was subsequently appointed to the guidance staff, and later became Assistant Vice Principal until his retirement in 1978. He earned 2 Master of Arts Degrees from New York University and had 33 graduate hours.

He enlisted in the Navy for pilot flight training at the start of WWII and was called to duty in 1942. He served in England and Africa flying 4-engine B-24 Liberator Patrol Bombers on anti-sub warfare missions, then was re-assigned to VPB-111 the Pacific area flying 14 hour missions during 3 invasions in the Philippines. As Lieutenant, he flew 66 missions with the same crew until the end of the war in 1946. He earned the US Navy Wings of Gold, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and 6 Air Medals for action against the enemy. He continued his association with the Navy Reserves and in 1958 became Commanding Officer of the Squadron; in 1962 he became Captain, flying at NAS in Brooklyn, NY in Patrol Squadron VP 832. He was next appointed a Battalion Commander and 2 years later became Chief of Staff for the Air Wing overseeing 3000 people. He retired from the Navy in 1978.

In 1952, he founded the Greeley Swimming Pool Company which he managed for 17 years. He was an active member of The Camp Fire Club of America, holding the title of president for 2 terms, and served as head of the Camp Fire Conservation Fund. He was an avid hunter and conservationist, and also enjoyed fishing, boating, and golf. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret, his son, Scott of Simsbury, CT, his daughter, Lynn Bilecky of Pleasantville, NY, two grandchildren, three brothers: John, Dick, Tom, and a sister, Carol DiNova, all from the Albany, NY area. Visiting hours will be held at Cassidy-Flynn Funeral Home, 288 Main St., Mt. Kisco, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. A Funeral Service will take place at The Camp Fire Club of America, 230 Campfire Road, Chappaqua on Saturday at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Rosary Hill Home, 600 Linda Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532 and The Camp Fire Conservation Fund, Inc., 230 Campfire Rd., Chappaqua, NY 10514.”