Roger E. Kilb

Lieutenant Colonel Roger E. Kilb passed away on April 18, 2024. He was born in Aurora, IL in May and raised in Naperville, Illinois. He was predeceased by his parents John and Christine Kilb. He entered the Marine Corps through the Officer Candidate Course and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December, 1961. He began his career in the Marine Corps by attending The Officer Base School (TBS) at Quantico, Virginia. Following graduation from TBS he attended The Basic Officer Field Artillery Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was designated a field artillery officer. As an artillery officer Lieutenant Colonel Kilb served tours of duty with the Third Marine Division, on Okinawa, Japan. the Republic of Vietnam and with The First Marine Division in Vietnam. Other tours of duty included Twentynine Palms, California; with Marine Barracks, Guam, MI; Officer Selection Officer, Detroit, Michigan; Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California; Armed Forces Staff College and the Naval War College; Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic and Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic. Lieutenant Colonel Kilb retired in July 1988.
Following retirement, he went to work for Newport News Shipbuilding and subsequently retired from First Command Financial Services in 1999. He belonged to the Notre Dame Club of Southeastern Virginia. He enjoyed reading, traveling, and playing golf – especially playing golf with the Honey Bee senior men's group. His first love was God, followed by his family, the Marine Corps and Notre Dame football.
He is survived by his loving wife, Janet; daughter Jennifer Pitchford (John); sons Jonathan (Nancy) and Erik; granddaughters Aili and Elizabeth Pitchford and Grace Kilb; and grandson 2nd Lt. Jacob Pitchford USMC; brother Charles (Becky); sisters Mary (Jim) and Sonja (Sandy) and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held 1:00pm, Friday, April 26 at Catholic Church of Saint Mark, 1505 Kempsville Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23464. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.