Kenneth Lee Yount, Sr.

Kenneth L. Yount, Sr. of Bastrop, Texas passed away May 21, 2011 after a sudden illness surrounded by his children. He was born in West Kittanning, Pa., on Dec 21, 1923, to Samuel F. and Violet Larue Yount. He was 87 years old. He married Phyllis A. White in West Kittanning, Pa., on Sept. 5, 1953. Kenneth and Phyllis retired to Pagosa Springs in 1996. After Phyllis passed away in 2002, Kenneth moved to Bastrop, Texas where he has lived with his daughter, Sandra, and her family for the past nine years. Kenneth was proud of his service in the Army Air Corps as a Second Lieutenant, assigned as a Pilot Trainer in WWII. He also served in the Air Force Reserve until 1956. After the war, he attended Penn State University where he was captain of the Penn State Rifle Team, an NRA All American, the pitcher on the baseball team and then graduated with a degree in Accounting. After graduating from college, Kenneth was a pitcher in the minor leagues for the Harrisburg Senators (Cleveland Indians), Niagara Falls Citizens and the Augusta Tigers from 1947-1952. It was at this time that he met his wife, Phyllis. She and her sisters used to attend the baseball games in Niagara Falls, N.Y. After winning the Baseball Players Golf Tournament in the Minor League Division three years in a row and retiring the trophy, Kenneth decided to pursue a career as a Class A Professional Golfer. He became golf pro at Hyde Park Golf Course in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Kenneth was an avid golfer, hunter and fisherman and shared these passions with his children and grandchildren. His granddaughter, Stephanie, shares his passion for golf and currently plays on the Bastrop Girls High School Golf team. Three of his grandsons, Jeff, Michael, and Chris, have followed in their grandfather’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Airforce. All of his children and grandchildren have fond memories of golfing, hunting and fishing with ‘Papa’. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Charles Wingate of Dallas, Texas; a daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Rex Myers of Bastrop, Texas; son, Kenneth L. Yount, Jr. of Colorado Springs, Co.; son Timothy S. Yount of Dallas, Texas; son and future daughter-in-law Barry A. Yount and Betty Garrison of Durango, Co.; a sister, Emogene Smith of Okmulgee, Ok.; ten grandchildren; and one future great-granddaughter. He is preceded in death by wife, Phyllis A. Yount; a daughter, Paula Larue Yount; and a brother, Col. Harold W. Yount. A memorial service with full Military Honors will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Bastrop Providence Funeral Home.