John William Kline

1919-2015

John William Kline, a retired major general in the United States Air Force and an acclaimed amateur golfer, died peacefully in San Antonio on Friday, July 2, 2015, at 96.

Kline was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1919, attended Ohio University, joined the Army Air Corps and received his wings and commission in 1941. He met and married Katherine Edmond Winton in 1942.

In golf, he was ranked in the Top 10 Senior Amateurs five times, inducted into the Senior Amateur Hall of Fame, and had a tournament named in his honor. In all, he won 29 tournaments, was runner-up in another 40, had 11 holesin-one and first shot his age at 66.

In his military career he was known for his brilliance as a strategist and problem solver. In 1945 he was sent to Germany, where he helped plan the Berlin Airlift. He created the Command Post for Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha, set up the red telephone system, and planned the international airborne alert. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was in command of ninety B-47 aircraft on alert to bomb Cuba if so ordered. In 1966 he was vice commander of the 3rd Air Division that commanded the B-52 bombing in Vietnam. He was awarded the Legion of Merit (four times) and the Distinguished Service Award, among others.

He is survived by three daughters, Susan Morehead, Flora Creighton and Liz Kline, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandsons.

A graveside service is scheduled for 1:30 pm on Thursday July 9 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio 78209. A reception will follow at The Towers on Park Lane.