William Scott Kemerling
of Garden Valley, Idaho,
and
Felton, Del.,
died on Friday, March
22, 2013 at his home in
Boise, Idaho, at the age
of 63 years.
He was born on Nov. 27,
1949,
in Anchorage,
Alaska,
the son of William
(Billy) Earle Kemerling
and Joan (Fowler)
Kemerling.
He is survived by his
wife Sheryl McAlpin
Kemerling of Garden Valley,
Idaho, three children
and their spouses, and
eleven grandchildren.
He is also survived by
his sister Deidre Jill (Kemerling)
Northup, of Springfield,
Va.
He was preceded in death
by his parents.
His children and
grandchildren are:
William Erik Kemerling
and wife,
Kristin Diane (Boyd)
Kemerling, and children:
Lauren Suzanne,
Annabelle Jennings,
William "Quinn," and
Levi Robert all of
Greenwood, Ind.
Tabitha Jayne (Kemerling)
Rowedder and husband,
Ryan Todd Rowedder and
children:
Rocky Scott, Abigail
Jayne, Madeline Jade,
Wyatt James,
and William "Titus"
all of Boise, Idaho.
Carrie Beth (Kemerling)
Lambert and her
husband Major Sean
Walter Lambert and
children: William
Charles "Liam," and
Sophia Elizabeth all of
Bogota, Colombia.
Nieces, nephews, other
relatives and many
friends also survive.
Scott
and wife,
Sheryl,
were 1970 graduates of
Tarkio College
in Tarkio, Mo. They were
married on Dec. 22,
1970, in Newmarket,
Iowa. The September before
their wedding, Scott was
commissioned a Second
Lieutenant in the United
States Air Force Medical
Corps and stationed at
Andrews Air Force Base,
Maryland.
In 1973, they moved to
Fort Rucker,
Ala., to attend the U.S.
Army Aviation Center
where their son, William
Erik, was born and Scott
was the distinguished
graduate of his class.
He became an Aerospace
Rescue and Recovery
pilot and lived by
rescue motto, "So That
Others May Live".
His first duty station
after flight
school was to Tyndall
AFB, Florida
to fly the Sikorsky H-3
"Jolly
Green Giant" for the 39th
Aerospace Rescue and
Recovery Wing. Their
first daughter Tabitha
Jayne was born at
Tyndall AFB. While at
Tyndall AFB, Scott was
awarded the Airman's
Medal (the Air Force's
highest noncombat
heroism award) for
entering the burning
wreckage of a B-57
Canberra in the
Florida
swamp, removing the
pilot, and securing him
to
the
helicopter hoist.
His next duty assignment
was to the 56th
Aerospace Rescue and
Recovery Squadron in
Keflavik, Iceland,
where
he flew the Sikorsky H-3
"Jolly Green Giant", and
then to San Diego,
Calif., to fly the
Sikorsky HH-3F "Pelican"
for the US Coast Guard
Group San Diego. San
Diego
is
the birthplace
of their second daughter,
Carrie
Beth.
Scott then returned to
Andrews Air Force base
to fly the UH-1N "Huey"
for the 1st
Helicopter Squadron
providing airlift for
the executive branch and
other dignitaries. Next,
Scott commanded
Detachment 1 of the 37th
Aerospace Rescue and
Recovery Squadron at
Davis-Monthan AFB
providing
rescue
and recovery service for
southern Arizona.
Following his command,
Scott was stationed as
an operations officer in
Ramstein, Germany, then
assigned as an executive
officer to the 436th
Supply Squadron at Dover
AFB, Del.
There he retired from
the Air Force having
attained the rank of
Major.
Scott then taught
mathematics and physical
science at Woodbridge
High School in
Bridgeville, Del.,
for one year. Next, he
taught biology,
chemistry, and physical
science, at Polytech
High School, in
Woodside, Del.,
for five years. As a
teacher at Polytech High
School, he received
Teacher of the Year
honors. While at
Polytech High School, he
was promoted to Vice
Principal, Principal,
and finally
Superintendent of
Curriculum. In 1997, he
graduated from Regent
University with a
master's degree in
Educational Leadership.
In 1999, he was the
founding principal of
Delmarva Christian High
School in Georgetown,
Del.
He led the school for
achieving accreditation
through both the Middle
States Association of
Colleges and Schools and
the Association of
Christian Schools
International.
The school enrolled 27
students in his first
year as Principal and
approximately 200 in his
final year as Principal.
As hobbies, he enjoyed
woodworking, carpentry,
and reading. He restored
a house at Prime Hook
Beach, Del.,
and enjoyed working on
their house in Garden
Valley, Idaho. He
enjoyed all sports,
playing baseball in high
school and football in
college. He liked
boating and waterskiing
with his family. He
maintained his civilian
helicopter license and
loved flying the
Robinson R-22. He was
member of The Gideon's
International and a
Pro-Life activist.
The Memorial Service was
at the Alden-Waggoner
Funeral Chapel, Boise,
Idaho. The graveside
service was performed at
the Idaho State Veterans
Cemetery.
