Soldier 'had a head and heart full of dreams'

4/13/04

Special Thanks to The Derrick for Allowing this Story to be Posted

Photo by Jerry Sowden - Deborah Kephart, 15, Jonathan's sister, replaces a blue star banner with a gold star banner in the front window. The blue star ribbon signifies a family member is serving in the armed forces and the gold star banner signifies the death of a soldier in battle.

Young Jonathan Kephart, said Siverly neighbor Mark French, was "a boy who had a head and a heart full of dreams."

News of his death in Iraq was shocking, said French.

"You listen and read and when it happens to someone in Pittsburgh or some other close place, you feel badly. But when it is your neighbor, that is so different. That's when it hits home," said French.

French, a longtime resident of Willow Street, watched the Kephart family buy a forlorn-looking house next to his a few years ago and transform it into a good, sturdy home.

"They breathed life into the place. They are just such wonderful people and they have a great sense of home and being neighborly," said French.

He got to know Jonathan by way of a painting job.

"I can't do heights really and so I asked him to help me paint that part of my house," said French. "He had no fear of heights and so he didn't hesitate. He was quiet, but he had such a nice smile."

Across the street, Bill Alexander and his family are mourning the loss of a young man who everyone knew as a basketball player and Derrick newspaper carrier. As Jonathan grew up, his neighbors also saw a more adult side to him.

"I got to see him in his Army uniform. He looked so good in it and he was so proud of what he was doing," said Alexander. "He was just such a good kid, a nice person who you just naturally liked. He was family oriented, very friendly and never had a bad word to say about anything. My kids looked up to him."

Alexander said the Kephart family, particularly Jonathan's father, offered his family support during a difficult time.

"They've helped us a lot. Our son lost two of his friends in an accident and Burton (Kephart) came over to talk to him and help him. He always has something nice to say to the kids when something goes bad. Right now, my kids are not dealing very well with the loss of Jonathan," said Alexander.

Mindful of the Kephart family's tragedy, Alexander said, "I've been praying for them and hoping that God helps them through this."

Jonathan delivered Derrick newspapers to some 90 subscribers along two routes in Siverly. When he joined the Army, his parents and siblings alternated mornings so they could continue delivery. It was a way, said his father, to stay in touch with neighbors as well as "earn a little pocket change" for the family.

When the Army sent Jonathan to Germany, his newspaper customers remembered him.

"His customers were very good at writing to him. They sent packages and letters, especially chocolate chip cookies, which he loved," said his mother.

In a twist of fate, Jonathan's mother reached out to many of those newspaper customers over the weekend.

"I called some of them to tell them about Jonathan's death because I didn't want them to read it in the paper, which one of us would be delivering that day," she said.