January 6, 1921 - March 18, 1948
Sweeny Cemetery,
Sweeny, Brazoria County, Texas

Find A Grave Memorial

Captain Kenneth Marion Parten [January 6, 1921 - March 18, 1948] was born to Rev, John William Parten [August 27. 1892 - November 24, 1962] and Anna Fern (Richards) Parten [September 7,1895 - December 22, 1989] at Bellville, Austin, County, Texas. As a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Reserves. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force on September 6, 1942, he was promoted to Ist Lieutenant April 9, 1943 and to Captain on August 25, 1944. He was released from active duty on January 25, 1946 and returned to the air Reserves. During WWII he was attached to the 344 AAF Bomb Squadron (Heavy). 95lh Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, stationed first at RAF Framlingham, England then until June 1945 at RAF Horham, England. While serving with the 344 AAF Bomb Squadron he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Unit Citation with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, The squadron was diverted to bombing priority tactical targets during the preparation for and execution of operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. attacking communications and coastal defenses. It hit enemy troop concentrations to facilitate the Allied break-out at Saint-Lo. The 334th attacked enemy troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945 and bombed airfields to support Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. Following the war he returned to the Air Reserves on August 13, 1947 (the USAAF became the US Air Force on September 18, 1947), On March 18,1948 he was aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress from Spokane Air Depot, Washington, which crashed while attempting a landing on a fog-shrouded runway at Mac Dill Field, near  Tampa. Florida. Ten crew members are killed and four were injured. His remains were returned to Sweeny, Texas for burial at the Sweeny Cemetery on March 24, 1948. It must be noted Captain Parten was not a World War II casualty.

Captain K. N [M]. Parten Buried In Sweeny

Captain Kenneth M. Parten, age 27 years, three months and 12 days of Sweeny, Texas, was killed in an airplane accident at Mac Dill Airfield in Florida March 18, 1948.

Captain Parten is survived by his mother, Mrs. Annie F. Parten of Waco, Texas, father, Rev. Joe Parten of Sweeny, Texas, one sister, Mrs. C. N. Sexton Jr. of Palacios, Texas.

Funeral services were held from the First Baptist Church at Sweeny, Texas Wednesday at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Brunner Lee, pastor of the First Baptist Church Sweeny, Texas officiating, assisted by Rev. M.A. Marshall, Bay City, Texas, Rev. Lawrence Clepper of Port Lavaca, Texas and Rev. L. W. Crouch of Palacios, Texas.  Interment was in Sweeny Cemetery.

Taylor Bros. Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

The Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 24, 1948

KENNETH PARTEN, LOCAL SCHOOL GRADUATE, KILLED IN B-29 CRASH; BURIAL IN SWEENY WEDNESDAY

Air Force Captain, Brother of Local Woman, Killed in Florida Plane Wreck; Served With Eighth Air Force Overseas

Palacios was shocked last Friday morning when it learned of the tragic death of Capt. Kenneth M. Parten, who died following a crash of a B-29 army plane in Florida.

Captain Parten, or Kenneth as he was known by his classmates, attended the local schools, participating in school athletics, and received his graduation diploma. He also attended Howard Payne College, the University of California, and California Institute of Technology.

He was born January 6, 1921 in Bellville, Texas and met his death on March 18, 1948 at the age of 27 years, 2 months, and 21 days.

He served his country during the four years of combat with the 8^th Air Force Heavy Bombardment Squadron, with several months duty overseas.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist Church in Sweeny, Texas, with Rev. Bruner Lee, of Sweeny, giving the obituary; Rev. M. A. Marshall, a prayer; and messages by Rev. L. D. Clepper of Port Lavaca and Rev. L. W. Crouch of Palacios.

Music for the services was rendered by the Baptist Church Choir of Port Lavaca.

His cousins served as pall bearers, one of whom was John C. Richards, of Palacios. Billy Crouch and Wallace Barr were honorary pallbearers.

He is survived by his father and mother, a sister, Mrs. C. B. Sexton of Palacios, and a niece, Addie Fern Sexton, also of Palacios.

The Palacios Beacon, March 25, 1948
 

Parten

Graveside services for Anna Fern Parten, 94, of Sweeny will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sweeny Cemetery with the Rev. Jeryl Watkins officiating.

Parten died Dec. 22, 1989.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City.

The Daily Tribune, December 22, 1989
 

Rites For Rev. J. W. Parten

Rev. John W. Parten, 70, of Rt. 1 Sweeny, a retired Baptist minister, died Saturday afternoon in Veterans Hospital in Waco.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. today at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Chance, pastor of Sweeny Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in Sweeny Cemetery.

He is survived by one daughter Mrs. C. B. Sexton; one sister, Mrs. Ethel Winscott; one brother C. R. Parten; one granddaughter, and one grandson, all of Sweeny.

The Daily Tribune, Monday, November 26, 1962
 

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