Colonel USAF (Ret) John B. Kerr, Jr.

Col Kerr passed away on October 25, 2025 at 93 years of age. He was a native of Englewood, NJ and a resident of Redlands, CA since 1976. The last two assignments of his 27-year United States Air Force career were at Norton AFB, CA as the Commander of the Aerospace Audio-Visual Service (AAVS) and as the Vice Director of the Defense Audio-Visual Agency (DAVA). He was a pilot for 17 years with 9300 flying hours and 310 combat missions as a Forward Air Controller over South Vietnam and Cambodia. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and nine air medals. His unit was also awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.

After retirement, Col Kerr was an executive recruiter focusing on plastics companies. He owned his own business from 1996 to 2007 when he retired.

Col Kerr was a graduate of Syracuse University where he played frosh baseball and was captain of the tennis team. He was selected as a Letterwinner of Distinction in 2000. Col Kerr, who played five different sports in high school, majored in Physical Education and planned to coach after a tour in the Air Force, but he fell in love with flying so much that he stayed in the Air Force which resulted in lots of flying and some coaching. He also earned a Masters of Science Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Southern California while attending school at night.

Col Kerr had a strong belief in giving back. He was a volunteer reader at his grandchildren’s elementary school in Highland, CA and a judge for the high school academic decathlon at the county, state, and national levels. He was a long-term college scholarship chairman for the Daedalians, a fraternal order of military pilots. He was a member of The Order of Daedalians since 1978, a former Flight Captain of a large flight at Norton AFB, and a member of the Board of Directors. He was the chief planner for six of his USAF pilot training class reunions. He also was an American Cancer Society counselor pertaining to prostate cancer patients.

Col Kerr is survived by his wife of 51 years Barbara; his son “Brink” Kerr (Grace) of Fayetteville, AR; two stepsons Steve Haskins (Kathleen) of San Bernardino, CA and John Haskins (Kathryn) of Redlands, CA; four grandchildren (Ross and Ryan Kerr of Fayetteville and Amanda and Bryan Haskins of Highland); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery on November 18, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.