Hugh A. Kirton

Hugh A. Kirton, 92, of St. Augustine passed away on March 4, 2009, in Miami, Fla. Hugh lived in St. Augustine since 1977, after retiring from Pan American Airways. He was born in Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada on Sept. 2, 1916, the son of Thomas John Kirton and Ethel Grey Brown with brothers, John and Glen and sisters, Lillian and Eileen.

Hugh attended Kilmory School in Watrous and went on to attend the Lincoln School of Aviation in Lincoln, Neb. After graduation he worked at Fairchild Aircraft in Longueuil, Quebec. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve prior to World War II. In 1942 he joined Pan American Airways-African Ltd and was assigned to Accra, British West Africa, where he assisted in building military airports and maintaining the military aircraft. The African Ltd operation was absorbed into the United States Air Force during World War II. Hugh was stationed in Africa and later Natal, Brazil, servicing aircraft for the South Atlantic crossing.

While on leave in 1943, Hugh returned to Quebec and married Leola Braithwaite. Hugh was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1944 and went to work for Pan American in Miami. In 1955 he was assigned as chief inspector to a U.S. State Department Technical Assistance Program with Turkish Airlines in Istanbul, Turkey. He worked in Istanbul for three years, assisting the Turkish Airlines in setting up their maintenance and inspection procedures.

Upon returning to Miami, Hugh became the supervisor of one of Pan American's maintenance overhaul hangars in Miami. Hugh retired from Pan American in 1977 after 35 years of service and moved to Treasure Beach in St. Augustine. After retiring he took great pleasure in helping his neighbors with their car or house problems as well as making several extended trips to help his sons with their home construction projects. During his younger years he was an avid softball player, pitching in several industrial leagues in both Canada and Miami. He stayed very active through his 80s, working on his yard and taking walks on Crescent Beach.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Leola B. Kirton.

He is survived by sons, Gary Kirton and his wife, Bonnie of Miami, Fla., and Alan Kirton and his wife, Deb of Boulder, Colo.; grandchildren, Donna, Tracy and Erin; great-grandchildren, Danny, Allison, Ashley, Brandon, Dillon, and Brooke; and great-great-grandchild, Christopher. His sister, Eileen Pyper, and brother, Glen Kirton, both of Canada, also survive him.

Services will be held on March 14, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Craig Funeral Home in St. Augustine. A reception will be held following the service at Hugh's residence in Treasure Beach at 254 Pizarro Road. Hugh's spirit will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Craig Funeral Home Crematory Memorial Park is in charge of the arrangements

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