George KNEEN Jr.

Family-Placed Death Notice

KNEEN, George, Jr. COLONEL GEORGE H. KNEEN, JR. Colonel George H. Kneen, Jr., 96, passed away on Thursday, August 23, 2012. Colonel Kneen was born in Derby, Connecticut on May 30, 1916. In 1940 he enlisted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from pilot training in September 1941. During World War II, he flew the B-26 bomber in the African and European theaters. After WWII, he remained in the Air Force for a thirty year career and served in several command assignments, which also included service as Base Commander of Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia in 1949. He then commanded numerous Air Force bomber, air refueling and troop carrier wings around the world. Colonel Kneen retired from the Air Force in 1969. He was a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. He received numerous decorations including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and nine Air Medals for his service during WWII and Korea. Following retirement from the Air Force, he served as the first director of the Cobb County Youth Museum and he was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Marietta and the Marietta Country Club. Also he was a member of Georgia Senior Golf Association. Survivors include his wife of sixty-six years, Harriet; son, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Kneen (Kathy), Louisville, KY; daughter, Wendy Williams (David), Powder Springs; brother, Rodman of Shelton CT; three grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Wellstar Foundation, 2000 S. Park Place, Ste. 202, Atlanta, GA 30339 or call 770-956-4483 to donate by phone. Please mark your check for Kennesaw Mountain Hospice with Col. Kneen's name on the check. Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory in Marietta is in charge of the arrangements. www.mayeswarddobbins.com