Earl Kibbey

Cpl. Earl Emerson Kibbey, age 18, of the Blanchester area, reported as missing in action on December 3, 1950 in the vicinity of Chosin Reservoir, North Korea during the Korean War. This local boy has been now identified and is finally coming back home after 75 years as missing in action. He was born October 4, 1932 in Blanchester, Ohio, son of the late Ephraim Earl & Helen Olivia (Spinks) Kibbey.

Cpl. Kibbey served in the US Army, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea-Korean War Service Medal and the Republic of Korea-Presidential Unit Citation.

Surviving are his sister- Faye Delcamp, Pleasant Hill, Ohio and numerous nieces and nephews.

Earl's siblings- Mary Sherod, Dorothy Thomas, Helen Humphrey, John Kibbey, Anna Eads, Harold Kibbey, Paul Kibbey, and Jane Skinner have all passed away.

Cpl. Kibbey will be arriving at 11:09 AM from Hawaii on November 18 at the Cincinnati International Airport. There will be a procession from the Airport to the Edgington Funeral Home, Wilmington. Further information on the route will be posted as they become available.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the Fisher-Edgington Funeral Home, 97 West Locust Street at North Mulberry Street, Wilmington, with the Blanchester American Legion Post #179 Chaplain Calvin Martin officiating. Interment will follow in the Clinton County Memory Gardens, Wilmington, where the active duty US Army Honor Guard will accord full military honors.

Friends will be received from 2-6 PM, Wednesday, November 19 at the Fisher-Edgington Funeral Home.

Contributions in Earl's memory may be made to the your local VFW or American Legion Post. To sign the online guest book, go to edgingtonfuneralhomes.com.