May 25, 1920 - September 15, 1944
Palacios Cemetery
Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas


Gold Star Mother
Eunice Esten Wright Killgore

2LT Killgore at Find A Grave

Second Lieutenant Simmen Albert Killgore, U.S. Army Air Forces, [May 25, 1920 - September 15, 1944] was born to Richard E. Killgore [August 10, 1899 - September 16, 1955] and Eunice Esten (Wright) Killgore [April 6, 1900 - April 29, 1981] at Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas. Albert attended Palacios schools and graduated from Palacios high School with the Class of 1939. While in high school he was one of their best football players and was an outstanding track man. After graduation he worked at various jobs in Palacios and was working at Camp Hulen when he joined the Army Air Forces in 1941. Beings the United States was not actively engaged in the war in Europe, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he received his wings and became a flight officer. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7^th, 1941, and our country becoming engaged in the war, he transferred back to the Army Air Forces and was appointed a 2^nd Lieutenant. At the time of his death he was assigned to the 326^th Ferry Squadron, 31^st Air Transport Group, 9^th Air Force at RAF Burtonwood, Warrington, Cheshire, England. The 31^st Air Transport Group was a valuable cog in the distribution machinery of the air force, flying cargo and personnel in support of operations. Albert’s aircraft was involved in an accident (in the air or on the ground is unknown) and he was severely injured. He died a few days later in a [military] hospital*. Albert was first interred at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, near the village of Madingley, Cambridgeshire, England. Upon his parents request his remains were repatriated to the United States in 1949 and were buried in a joint burial service with his brother Richard** at the Palacios Cemetery. Besides his parents, he was survived by his brother, Eugene E. Killgore serving in the U.S. Navy and his sister Mrs. Frances Vest.  His mother and father were living at Palacios.

*Some newspaper accounts give his death as a combat related incident, the National WWII Memorial Registry lists his death as Non-Battle.
 

**Richard A. Killgore was Killed in Action on January 29, 1944 on a bombing run to Frankfurt, Germany.

Albert Killgore, a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was here last week visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Killgore. Albert received his wings last Friday as a commissioned officer pilot and from here he went to Nova Scotia for a two-months training before going on oversea duty.

Palacios Beacon
 

With Our Men In The Service

Albert Killgore, now a Pilot Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, has returned to his post of duty in Nova Scotia, after a visit with home folks and friends.

Palacios Beacon
 

MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD SUNDAY FOR
LIEUTENANT SIMEON ALBERT KILLGORE

Many friends gathered at the First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon for the Memorial Services held to honor Simeon Albert Killgore who was born in our city on May 25, 1920, and who lost his life due to an aircraft accident, passing away in a hospital in England on Sept. 15th.

The church had been especially arranged for the service and appropriate music furnished by the choir with Rev. L. W. Crouch, pastor, in charge, who gave the following tribute:

“Albert went to school here in Palacios and graduated from the high school in the class of ’39. While in high school he was one of our best football players and an outstanding track man. Many are the trophies he won in these events and great honor did he bring to his school.

“After finishing school he worked in and around our city, being an employee in Camp Hulen when he volunteered for our Nation’s Air Corps in 1941. But since our nation at that time was not actively engaged in War, Albert transferred into the Royal Canadian Air Force because he felt that the Allied cause was just and wanted to give his services in that cause. Consequently he went to Canada where he received his Wings and became a flight officer but in the meantime our Nation entered the conflict and he realizing that he owed his first allegiance to his own Nation transferred back into our Air Corps. Within a short time thereafter he received his Commission as 2nd Lieutenant in our Air Corps, where he served with the 31st Air Transport Group being attached to the 326th Ferry Squadron. His chief duties seem to have been that of transporting men and material from bases to the battle zones. He was thoroughly trained in this work being able to fly any type of plane but more especially the larger types used in our transport missions.

“The details of the accident in which he was wounded and which caused his death has not been received by his parents as yet.

“He is survived by his father and mother, Mrs. and Mrs. R. E. Killgore, one sister, Frances, one brother Eugene, and it is hoped that his other brother, Richard, who has been reported missing in action, will yet be found.

“Albert was beloved of all who knew him and he always carried a smile with which to greet everyone. He gave his all for the cause that he loved. ‘Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.”                           

Palacios Beacon, October 26, 1944
 

Remains of Lt. S. A. Kilgore Shipped For Burial Here

Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Kilgore [Killgore] are in receipt of the following from Government D. L. P. D. Fort Worth, Texas:

“This headquarters has been advised that the remains of the late 2^nd Lt. Simmen A. Kilgore are enroute to the United States. Records of this office indicate you wish remains delivered to Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Palacios, Texas.

Please instruct Funeral Director to accept remains at railroad station upon arrival. We regret it is not possible at this time to give you a definite delivery date, however, three days prior to shipment from this depot your funeral director will be notified by telegram of rail routing and schedule time remains will arrive at railroad station. Remains will be accompanied by military escort. Lt. Wm. Lloyd Queen Post Veterans of Foreign Wars will have charge of the funeral services.

The Palacios Beacon, Thursday, July 1, 1948
 

JOINT REBURIAL RITES FOR TWO KILLGORE BROTHERS IN PALACIOS

Reburial rites for S-Sgt. Richard Arnold Killgore and 2nd Lt. Simeon Albert Killgore, brothers of Palacios, will be held in Palacios, Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The services will be held from the First Baptist Church in Palacios with the Rev. L. W. Couch and the Rev. Rayford Harris officiating.

Interment will be in Palacios Cemetery with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in charge of the services.

S-Sgt. Richard Arnold Killgore who lost his life on a bombing mission to Frankfurt, Germany, January 29, 1944, was 23 years of age. He joined the U.S. Air Corps, Nov. 2, 1942. During his period of training he was stationed at Ellington Field, Buckley Field, Colo.; Rapid City, S.D., Ephrata, Wash.; Redmond, Ore.; and Grand Island, Neb. He was sent overseas to England where he was a Waist gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, making bombing raids over Europe. The plane was shot down January 29, 1944, and for 19 months he was listed as missing. His body was first laid to rest in Germany and later transferred to the American Military Cemetery in St. Avold, France. He was awarded the Purple Heart. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Killgore, his wife, Elsie and one son, Charles Richard. Also surviving were one brother, Eugene E. of the U. S. Navy, a sister, Mrs. Frances Vest of Grand Prairie.

Second Lieutenant Simeon Albert Killgore lost his life due to an aircraft accident, the effects from which he died in a hospital in England, September 15, 1944. He was 24 years of age. He is survived by his parents, a sister, Frances, and a brother, Eugene.

A graduate from the Palacios schools in 1939, he was an outstanding athlete in football and track especially. He was employed at Camp Hulen where he volunteered for the air corps in 1941. Since the United States was then not in active war, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force and received his wings in Canada and became a flight officer. In the meantime America entered the war and he transferred into the U. S. Air Force. Within a short time he received his commission as Second Lieutenant and served with the 31st Air Transport Group, attached to the 326th Ferry Squadron.              

Matagorda County Tribune, January 13, 1949
 

EUNICE E. KILLGORE

Funeral services for Eunice E. Killgore, 81, of Dallas, were held May 2 at the Palacios Funeral Home with the Rev. J. R. Gwin officiating. Interment was in Palacios Cemetery.

Mrs. Killgore died April 29 in Dallas. Born in Alabama on April 6, 1900, she had lived 53 years in Palacios and the last three in Dallas.

She is survived by one daughter, Francis Sutterfield of Dallas; three sisters, Bessie Ross of Palacios, Leona Killgore of Palacios, and Bertha Nelson of Lafayette, La.; numerous nieces and nephews, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Palacios Beacon, Thursday, May 6, 1981
 

Richard E. Killgore Dies September 16,
Final Rites Held

Funeral services were held for Mr. Richard E. Killgore, 56, at the First Baptist Church Wednesday, September 21, with Rev. Rayford Harris officiating.

Mr. Killgore, who died suddenly Friday, September 16, was a long time resident of Palacios. He was born in Alabama August 10, 1899.

He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Killgore.

Mr. Killgore is survived by his widow, Mrs. Eunice Killgore, one daughter, Mrs. Joe E. Vest, Dallas, and one son, Eugene, who is stationed with the navy at Pearl Harbor.

Other survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Viola Williams, Mrs. Ozie Knight and Mrs. Alice Parish, all of Alabama, and four brothers, W. V. Killgore, Palacios, A. B. Killgore, of Florida, Sims Killgore and W. I. Killgore, both of Alabama.

Burial was in Palacios Cemetery.

Palacios Beacon, Thursday, September 22, 1955
 

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