William Francis Kern1,2 
M, (13 December 1919 - 15 March 2019)
William Francis Kern was born on 13 December 1919 at Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was the son of Harry Henry Kern and Ann Jane Daly. William Francis Kern was baptized at Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He married, at age 22, Vivian Lois Sholder, age 20, daughter of Nelson Richard Sholder and Meredith Kunes, on Friday, 24 July 1942 at Lycoming Presbyterian Church, Newberry, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, by the Reverend J. Clyde Foose.1,2 William Francis Kern died on 15 March 2019 at age 99 years, 3 months and 2 days. He was buried on 15 June 2019 in court 7, section YY, column 7, niche 4, in the Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.
He was Postal Worker. The following article about William Francis was published circa 1943 in the local paper, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
LIEUT. WILLIAM F. KERN MISSING IN ACTION OVER GERMANY, FAMILY LEARNS
Lieut. William F. Kern, Williamsport Air Force navigator decorated early in March for action over Europe, was reported today by the War Department as missing in action.
Official War Department notification was received by his wife, Mrs. Vivian Kern, who resides with her parents at 858 Second Street. It stated that Lieutenant Kern has been missing since March 23. On that date he engaged in a mission over Germany.
The young officer's father, Harry H. Kern, resides at 342 Eldred Street.
Members of the family said today that the last letter received from him was postmarked March 22. In a letter under date of March 18, he told of having engaged in 16 missions.
He was the navigator on a B-24 Liberator.
In the accompanying picture, released by the War Department, Lieutenant Kern is shown receiving an Army decoration for exploits against enemy-held territory. His commanding officer is pinning the Air Medal on his breast.3 Bill was the navigator in a B-24 Liberator and while flying a bombing mission he was shot down over Germany. He was taken prisoner and released as a POW. He also served in the Korean War. As of 1992, William Francis Kern and Vivian Lois Sholder lived at 120 Nettles Boulevard, Jensen Beach, Florida.4 He became a widower at the age of 92 with the death of Vivian on 12 May 2012.2,5
He was Postal Worker. The following article about William Francis was published circa 1943 in the local paper, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
LIEUT. WILLIAM F. KERN MISSING IN ACTION OVER GERMANY, FAMILY LEARNS
Lieut. William F. Kern, Williamsport Air Force navigator decorated early in March for action over Europe, was reported today by the War Department as missing in action.
Official War Department notification was received by his wife, Mrs. Vivian Kern, who resides with her parents at 858 Second Street. It stated that Lieutenant Kern has been missing since March 23. On that date he engaged in a mission over Germany.
The young officer's father, Harry H. Kern, resides at 342 Eldred Street.
Members of the family said today that the last letter received from him was postmarked March 22. In a letter under date of March 18, he told of having engaged in 16 missions.
He was the navigator on a B-24 Liberator.
In the accompanying picture, released by the War Department, Lieutenant Kern is shown receiving an Army decoration for exploits against enemy-held territory. His commanding officer is pinning the Air Medal on his breast.3 Bill was the navigator in a B-24 Liberator and while flying a bombing mission he was shot down over Germany. He was taken prisoner and released as a POW. He also served in the Korean War. As of 1992, William Francis Kern and Vivian Lois Sholder lived at 120 Nettles Boulevard, Jensen Beach, Florida.4 He became a widower at the age of 92 with the death of Vivian on 12 May 2012.2,5
Children of William Francis Kern and Vivian Lois Sholder
- William Stephen Kern+1 (18 Mar 1946 - 18 Jul 1998)
- Richard Scott Kern+1,2
- Jeanine G. Kern1,2
Last Edited=1 Jul 2020
Citations
- [S2225] W. Stephen Kern obituary, undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper presumably from a local paper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, July 1998. The original article was from a scrapbook of personal memorabilia compiled by Johanna (Weiss) Edler (1915-1999) through out her life. Viewed in the home of her daughter Donna (Edler) Sayah on 1 June 1999, by Kevin Sholder. Donna Lee Edler, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA.
- [S2271] "Vivian S. Kern obituary," Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 18 May 2012, online archives (http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/578429/… : accessed 13 January 2013). Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S2223] Lieut. William F. Kern Missing In Action Over Germany, Family Learns, undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper presumably from a local paper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, circa 1943. The original article was from a scrapbook of personal memorabilia compiled by Johanna (Weiss) Edler (1915-1999) through out her life. Viewed in the home of her daughter Donna (Edler) Sayah on 1 June 1999, by Kevin Sholder. Donna Lee Edler, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA.
- [S1247] Meredith Sholder Harbold obituary, Harrisburg Patriot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 25 October 1992, p. B2.
- [S2272] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave.com, transcription, (<http://www.findagrave.com/>: accessed 13 January 2013), transcript, "tombstone for Vivian Sholder Kern (1922-2012), Find A Grave Memorial No. 99414152, tombstones of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia." Transcript by Paul Hays, record added 22 October 2012.