Colonel Kenneth Wayne Jewett, United States Air Force (retired), of Lexington, Virginia, lost his battle to cancer on September 9, 2012.

Born November 26, 1954, and raised in Ohio, he graduated from Otterbein College (now University) with a B.A. in History and from the University of Northern Colorado with a M.A. in Public Administration.

A 30 year veteran of the Air Force, he began as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Operations specialist, serving as a combat crew member, commander, and instructor, command instructor/evaluator, and at Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, and Headquarters, U.S. Air Force-The Pentagon.

He commanded the 446th Strategic Missile Squadron, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, and attended Air War College before his career shifted to international relations. Beginning with arms control treaty enforcement with the On-site Inspection Agency/Defense Threat Reduction Agency, he moved into the diplomatic field as the U.S. Defense Attache, U.S. Embassy Algiers, Algeria.

His final assignment before retirement was as Commandant, Joint Military Attache System. He earned the Command Missile Badge with Operations Designator, two Defense Superior Service Medals, the Legion of Merit and four Meritorious Service Medals, along with many other awards, medals, and recognitions.

On retirement. he removed to his country home in Rockbridge County, where he was an active member of the Ben Salem Presbyterian Church, serving as a ruling elder, and the Greater Lexington Newcomers Club, serving as its President.

An author in retirement, he wrote and had published a three novel, historical fiction series on the French and Indian War (1752 to 1763) based largely in this area and using his family as the characters. All three were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in American literature.

He served on the board of directors of the Jewett Family of America and was a member of the National Society-Sons of the American Revolution, tracing his ancestry in America back to 1638.

Preceded in death by his parents, R. Wayne and Marie Knol Jewett, he is survived by his brothers, Gregory Lewis and Kirk Henry Jewett, Niece Sarah Nichole Jewett; and nephews, Philip Gregory and Kyle Wayne Jewett.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Ben Salem Presbyterian Church, c/o Connie Campbell, Treasurer, 195 Paxton House Dr., Buena Vista, VA 24416.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, September 17, 2012, at Ben Salem Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Larry Miles and the Rev. Marc Burcham officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Worthington, Ohio. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 16, 2012, at Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington.