Kenneth A KORCH

(b. 19 January 1919 , Webster, Massachusetts, USA d. 4 December 2005 , Webster, Massachusetts, USA )

Am I Your Ancestor?
KORCH Family Tree – Connecting the Past to the Present!

What started out as our family is now your’s too!

Kenneth A KORCH was born 19 January 1919 in Webster, Massachusetts, USA

Kenneth A KORCH was the child of Andrew (András) Henry KORCH and Anna "Panna" ROZGONYI and the grandchild of: (paternal) Andrew (András) KORCH (KOVALČÍK) (KOVELICH) and Elizabeth (Alzbeta) (Erzsébet) TOMKO

Kenneth A was a soldier in World War II.

Tracing Ancestors Through Military Service Records: Unveiling Family Heroes

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Kenneth A married Letha Helen GODDARD 1 August 1941 in Webster, Massachusetts, USA . Letha Helen GODDARD was born 27 May 1923 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Letha Helen died 20 September 2002 in San Diego, California, USA. Letha Helen was the child of Robert Stephen GODDARD and Gladys Minnie KIMBALL.

Kenneth A married (2) Mary (Zella) PALAGYI 5 May 1948 in Webster, Massachusetts, USA . The couple had (at least) 2 children.
Mary (Zella) PALAGYI was born abt. 1924 in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, USA. Mary (Zella) died 25 April 2014 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville). Mary (Zella) was the child of János (John) PALÁGYI and Elizabeth KARA.

Kenneth A KORCH died 4 December 2005 in Webster, Massachusetts, USA.
Details of the family tree of Kenneth appear below.

Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II

World War II: The Definitive Visual History from Blitzkrieg to the Atom Bomb

Honoring WWII Heroes Ceramic Coffee Mug – World War II Veteran Tribute Gift

Crafted from durable ceramic, this mug is perfect for morning coffee, evening tea, or thoughtful reflection. The dignified 'Honoring WWII Heroes' caption makes it an especially meaningful gift for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, or as a keepsake for those with a personal connection to World War II history.

A Glimpse into the Everyday Life of the Average American Man in the Mid-1900s

Family and Children of Kenneth A KORCH

[Hide/Show]

Kenneth A KORCH married

Letha Helen GODDARD-- Date: 1 August 1941 Place: Webster, Massachusetts, USA
Letha Helen GODDARD was the child of Robert Stephen GODDARD and Gladys Minnie KIMBALL

COUPLE UNITED AT WEBSTER

WEBSTER - Aug. 1. - Miss Letha Goddard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Goddard of School street and Kenneth A. Korch son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Korch of First street, were married at 7 o'clock tonight at the First Baptist Church. Rev. H. Douglas Pierce officiated...

Worcester Daily Telegram
Worcester, Massachusetts
August 2, 1941

Mrs. Letha H Korch of Worcester sued Kenneth A. Korch of Webster for divorce on the grounds of cruelty. They were married in Webster, Aug. 1, 1941, and lived there.

Worcester Evening Gazette
Worcester, Massachusetts
October 3, 1945

Children of Kenneth A KORCH and Letha Helen GODDARD:

Kenneth A KORCH married

Mary (Zella) PALAGYI-- Date: 5 May 1948 Place: Webster, Massachusetts, USA
Mary (Zella) PALAGYI was the child of János (John) PALÁGYI and Elizabeth KARA

Couple United
Miss Zella M. Palagyi of Duquesne, Pa., and Kenneth A. Korch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Korch of 45 First street, were married Wednesday afternoon in the Fist Baptist Church. Rev. Clarence M. Fogg officiated. The couple was attened by Ronald and Emma Korch. After a wedding trip to Pennsylvania, they will make thier home at Kildeer Island.

Worcester Daily Telegram
Worcester, Massachusetts
May 7, 1948

Children of Kenneth A KORCH and Mary (Zella) PALAGYI:

Living (b., d. , )

Living (b., Webster, Massachusetts, USA d. , )

Share the History, Life Events, and Stories of Kenneth A KORCH
(Add details like birth, baptism, census records, military service, obituary, personal achievements, and more.)

[Hide/Show]

Discovering the Ancestry of Kenneth A KORCH: Events, Photos & Historical Records

Postcards and Memories of Webster, Massachusetts, USA

1919 Birth
19 January 1919
Webster, Massachusetts, USA

1919
Name: Kenneth A Korch
Birth Date: 1919
Birth Place: Webster, Massachusetts, USA
Volume Number: 170
Page Number: 295
Index Volume Number: 97
Reference Number: F63.M362 v.97

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1901-1960 and 1967-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Original data: Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts Vital Records Index to Births [1916–1970]. Volumes 92–160, 162, 168, 175, 212– 213. Facsimile edition. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
ancestry.com

Official Birth Certificate

1920 Webster, Worcester, Massachusetts
name: Kenneth Korch
residence: Webster Webster Part Of Ward 6, Worcester, Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1919
age: 1
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Son
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Single
father's birthplace:
mother's birthplace:
film number: 1820749
digital folder number: 4311574
image number: 00017
sheet number: 6
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self Andrew Korch M 32y Austria
wife Anna Korch F 31y Austria
dau Anna Korch F 12y Massachusetts
dau Lillian Korch F 10y Massachusetts
dau Bertha Korch F 8y Massachusetts
dau Floris Korch F 6y Massachusetts
dau Eileen Korch F 4y Massachusetts
son Kenneth Korch M 1y Massachusetts
1920 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1920 - January 17 - Prohibition goes into effect on January 17, 1920, under the provisions of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution

1921 - Warren G. Harding becomes President of the United States

1921 - Charles Strite of Minnesota patents the pop-up toaster.

1923 to 1927 - Television is invented (Vladimir Kosma Zworykin (Russia), Philo Taylor Farnsworth (United States))

1923 - Calvin Coolidge becomes President of the United States

1927 - The aerosol can is invented (Erik Rotheim, Norway)

1927 - April 7 – Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover (then the Secretary of Commerce), which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television

1928 - Sliced bread (bread slicing machine) is invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder (United States)

1929 - Herbert Hoover becomes President of the United States

1929 - October 29 - Black Tuesday - Stock market crash - The Great Depression Begins - It lasted until 1941 (WW2)

1930 - Scotch tape is invented (Richard Drew (3M), United States)

1930 Webster, Worcester, Massachusetts
name: Kenneth A Korch
event: Census
event date: 1930
event place: Webster, Worcester, Massachusetts
gender: Male
age: 11
marital status: Single
race: White
birthplace: Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1919
immigration year:
relationship to head of household: Son
father's birthplace: Czechoslovakia
mother's birthplace: Czechoslovakia
enumeration district number: 0293
family number: 64
sheet number and letter: 3B
line number: 65
nara publication: T626, roll 966
film number: 2340701
digital folder number: 4607702
image number: 00809
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Andrew H Korch M 42 Czechoslovakia
wife Anna Korch F 41 Czechoslovakia
daughter Panna H Korch F 22 Connecticut
daughter Lillian G Korch F 20 Massachusetts
daughter Floris M Korch F 16 Massachusetts
daughter Eileen D Korch F 14 Massachusetts
son Kenneth A Korch M 11 Massachusetts
daughter Elna M Korch F 6 Massachusetts
son Ronald E Korch M 5 Massachusetts
1930 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

In 1930, on February 18, Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, marking a significant milestone in the study of our solar system.

1931 - The paper towel is invented (Arthur Scott, United States)

1931 - March 3 – The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the United States National anthem.

1933 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President of the United States

1933 - December 5 – The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution is passed, repealing Prohibition

1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)

1935 - The snowmobile was invented by Joseph Bombardier (Quebec, Canada)

1935 - August 14 – United States President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law

1938 - The ballpoint pen is invented (Lazlo Biro, Hungary)

1938-1944 - Sunscreen is invented (Franz Greiter, Switzerland and Benjamin Green, United States)

1938 - October 27 - Du Pont announces a name for its new synthetic yarn: nylon.

1940 Webster, Worcester, Massachusetts
45 First Street
Korch Andrew, head, 52, b. Germany, laborer, street const. W. P. A., $636
Korch Anna, wife, 51, b. Germany
Korch Kenneth, son, 21, b. MA, clerk, drug store, $736
Korch Elna, daughter, 16, b. MA
Korch Ronald, son, 15, b. MA

name: Kenneth Korch
titles & terms:
event: Census
event year: 1940
event place: Webster Town, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
gender: Male
age: 21
marital status: Single
race (original):
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (original):
relationship to head of household (standardized): Son
birthplace: Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1919
residence in 1935: Same House
enumeration district number: 14-304
family number: 21
sheet number and letter: 1B
line number: 76
nara publication number: T627
nara roll number: 1655
digital folder number: 005460927
image number: 01033
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Andrew Korch M 52 Germany
wife Anna Korch F 51...Read MORE...

1940 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1941 Marriage / Partner
Kenneth A KORCH and Letha Helen GODDARD 1 August 1941, Webster, Massachusetts, USA

He was 22 years old.

1941 - December 8 - (the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor) United States declares war on Japan (WW2)

World War II Army Enlistment - 1942
Name: Kenneth A Korch

Birth Year: 1919

Race: White, citizen (White)

Nativity State or Country: Massachusetts

State: Massachusetts

County or City: Worcester

Enlistment Date: 22 Dec 1942

Enlistment State: Massachusetts

Enlistment City: Fort Devens

Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA

Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA

Grade: Private

Grade Code: Private

Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law

Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)

Source: Civil Life

Education: 4 years of high school

Civil Occupation: Laundry Machine Operator or Receiving Or Shipping Checker (Receiving and shipping clerk. )

Marital Status: Married

World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II

1944 - D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal World War II operation where Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. Known as Operation Overlord, it involved over 156,000 troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations. The operation aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi German control. The landings marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, leading to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.

1945 - The atomic bomb is invented (J. Robert Oppenheimer, et al., United States)

The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.

Kenneth A KORCH - Coming Home on Queen Elizabeth

Coming Home on Queen Elizabeth

Worcester Evening Gazette, Worcester, Masschusetts, August 10, 1945

1945 - Harry S. Truman becomes President of the United States

1945 - On September 2, 1945, World War II officially ended with the formal surrender of Japan. The surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese officials signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Allied representatives, including General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz.

1948 - Velcro is invented (George de Mestral, Switzerland)

1948 Marriage / Partner
Kenneth A KORCH and Mary (Zella) PALAGYI 5 May 1948, Webster, Massachusetts, USA

He was 29 years old.

1950 - June 25 - Korean War begins when North Korean forces invade South Korea.

1953 - Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President of the United States

1953 - On July 27, 1953, the Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice agreement at Panmunjom. This ceasefire halted the conflict between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by United Nations forces primarily from the United States. The agreement established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel, effectively maintaining the pre-war boundary and creating a buffer zone between the two Koreas.

1961 - John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States

1961 - Vietnam War officially begins with 900 military advisors landing in Saigon.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. The crisis is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. It began when American spy planes discovered the missiles, leading to a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and intense negotiations. The crisis ended when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey.

1963 - I Have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963.

In 1963, on November 22, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassination shocked the nation and the world, leading to widespread mourning and a period of intense national introspection. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States shortly after Kennedy's death. The assassination sparked numerous conspiracy theories and investigations, with the Warren Commission ultimately concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Kennedy's death had a profound impact on American politics and society, marking the end of an era often referred to as 'Camelot.'

1968 - The ATM is invented (Don Wetzel, United States)

1969 - Richard M. Nixon becomes President of the United States

1969 - July 20 - Apollo 11 - Man lands on the moon

June 17, 1972 – August 9, 1974 - Watergate Scandal began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. Members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, and the indictment of several administration officials.

1973 - January 22 - Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 and Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179: The U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women’s right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus making abortion legal in the U.S.

1973 - March 29 - The last United States soldier leaves Vietnam

The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper of Motorola. On April 3, 1973, he made the first handheld mobile phone call with the Motorola DynaTAC. This device weighed 2.5 pounds and was 10 inches long, offering 30 minutes of talk time and requiring 10 hours to charge. The first commercial cell phone was released in 1983, revolutionizing communication and leading to the modern smartphones we use today.

1974 - Gerald R. Ford becomes President of the United States after the resignation of Richard Nixon.

1977 - Jimmy Carter becomes President of the United States

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State occurred on May 18, triggered by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. It caused the largest landslide in recorded history, followed by a massive lateral blast. The eruption killed 57 people, destroyed 250 homes, and spread ash across the U.S.

1981 - Ronald Reagan becomes President of the United States

1981 - June 5 - First reported case of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

1982 - The camcorder is invented (Sony Corp., Japan)

1983 - The laptop computer is invented (Radio Shack Corp., United States)

1986 - January 28 - Space Shuttle Challenger accident - The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members.

1989 - The World Wide Web is invented at CERN (Tim Berners-Lee, UK)

1989 - George H. W. Bush becomes President of the United States

1993 - William J. Clinton becomes President of the United States

2001 - George W. Bush becomes President of the United States

2001 - September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Coordinated terrorist attacks by the extremist group al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, leading to significant changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy, including the War on Terror.

2002 Death of Spouse/Partner
Letha Helen GODDARD died 20 September 2002, San Diego, California, USA

Death
Age: 86
Given Name: Kenneth
Middle Name: A
Surname: Korch
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 19 Jan 1919
State: Massachusetts
Last Place of Residence: Worcester, Massachusetts
Previous Residence Postal Code: 01570
Event Date: 04 Dec 2005
Social Security Death Index
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

Obituary
KENNETH A. KORCH, SR.

PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 7, 2005.

WEBSTER KENNETH A. KORCH, SR., OF 18 BEACON RD., KILLDEER ISLAND, DIED SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2005 AT HEYWOOD HOSPITAL IN GARDNER.

HE LEAVES HIS WIFE OF 57 YEARS, ZELLA (PALAGYI) KORCH TWO SONS, KENNETH A. KORCH, JR., AND HIS WIFE, PATRICIA OF DUDLEY, AND KEITH A. KORCH AND HIS WIFE, DEBRA OF STURBRIDGE AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN, ASHLEY AND MICHAEL.

KEN WAS BORN IN WEBSTER, ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN OF ANDREW H. AND ANNA "PANNA" (ROZGOVNYI) KORCH. HE WAS A GRADUATE OF BARTLETT HIGH SCHOOL. DURING WWII, HE SERVED AS A SERGEANT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, AND COMPLETED 15 MISSIONS AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER WITH THE 336TH BOMB SQUADRON. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHARLES F. MINNEY V.F.W. POST IN MILLBURY.

KENNETH WAS A SELF EMPLOYED CARPENTER. HE RAISED BEAGLES FOR MANY YEARS WITH THREE OF HIS DOGS FINISHING AS FIELD TRIAL CHAMPIONS. HE WAS AN AVID READER WHO ENJOYED HUNTING, FISHING, AND SPENDING TIME IN VERMONT.

FUNERAL...Read MORE...

Added: 5/16/2008 12:00:00 AM - Updated: 6/29/2026 9:37:35 AM