They were young. Kathleen Anne “Kitty” Arbona and Lynne Root were two of four teenagers that died together in a tragic Friday night two-car collision at an intersection on Memorial parkway on 18 September 1971. Both were 15 years old at the time and Sophomore classmates of ours. Also killed were Harold Englehardt (19) and John Hughes Jr. (16) (I don’t know if they were also Grissom students?). Three others were hospitalized but survived. I remember the accident in the news, but not very much about our classmates as it was so long ago. Still - way too young. Those of us reading this should thank the Lord for our blessing of longevity and reflect upon those who left us long ago.
Kit Arbona and I were homeroom friends. We loved to talk about life at Grissom and were beginning to be close. I was very sad when I found out that she had died in the accident. I did go to the funeral and was very heavy-hearted as a 15-year-old. I still think about her today and pray for her family.
I knew Kit from junior high at Whitsburg. She had red hair and was a spirited individual. She was killed in a horrible accident at Logan and the Parkway on a Saturday night. Three others in the car were also killed. The only survivor was her younger brother Jim Arbona. I was told there was a civil suite about the accident. I saw the Mustang after the accident. It was crushed to half of original width. This was tragic and heartbreaking loss of young lives. At the time I was 15 and it did not seem possible that something like this could happen. I will never forget Kit.
J. D. Webster
They were young. Kathleen Anne “Kitty” Arbona and Lynne Root were two of four teenagers that died together in a tragic Friday night two-car collision at an intersection on Memorial parkway on 18 September 1971. Both were 15 years old at the time and Sophomore classmates of ours. Also killed were Harold Englehardt (19) and John Hughes Jr. (16) (I don’t know if they were also Grissom students?). Three others were hospitalized but survived. I remember the accident in the news, but not very much about our classmates as it was so long ago. Still - way too young. Those of us reading this should thank the Lord for our blessing of longevity and reflect upon those who left us long ago.
Jeana Sowell (Boggs)
Kit Arbona and I were homeroom friends. We loved to talk about life at Grissom and were beginning to be close. I was very sad when I found out that she had died in the accident. I did go to the funeral and was very heavy-hearted as a 15-year-old. I still think about her today and pray for her family.
Rick Shrout
John Hughes was in the GHS class of 1973. (Thank you Ron Tyra for the update.)
Terry Powers
I knew Kit from junior high at Whitsburg. She had red hair and was a spirited individual. She was killed in a horrible accident at Logan and the Parkway on a Saturday night. Three others in the car were also killed. The only survivor was her younger brother Jim Arbona. I was told there was a civil suite about the accident. I saw the Mustang after the accident. It was crushed to half of original width. This was tragic and heartbreaking loss of young lives. At the time I was 15 and it did not seem possible that something like this could happen. I will never forget Kit.