BILOXI  — Edward Bartley Kitchens Jr., brigadier general, U.S. Army retired, age 90, of Biloxi died Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Greenbriar Nursing Center.

Born in Greenville on Aug. 19, 1918, he attended Gulf Coast Military Academy in Gulfport and was graduated from its high school division in 1936. He received his bachelor of science degree from Louisiana State University in 1941. Entering the Army as a second lieutenant in 1942, he served initially as a platoon leader and company commander in the Infantry Training Center, Camp Wheeler, Ga. He was transferred to North Africa in early 1943, where he participated in the activation of the 3rd Ranger Battalion. He served with Darby’s Rangers as a company commander and battalion operations officer in Africa, Sicily and Italy until the loss of the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions during the ill-fated attack on Cisterna de Littoria on the Anzio Beachhead in early 1944. He was a prisoner of war of the Germans until the camp was overrun by Russian Forces on the Eastern Front in  April 1945.

Upon his return to the United States in mid-1945, he was assigned to the Infantry Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., as the director of schools. In March 1946, he was transferred to Fort Benning, Ga., where he served for over three years as a member of the faculty of the Infantry School. In mid-1950, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a battalion operations officer, executive officer and battalion commander in the 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment. In late 1951, he was reassigned to the 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team in the Far East, again assuming duties as battalion operations officer, executive officer and battalion commander. The regiment served in Korea and also was stationed in Japan as the Far East Command airborne reserve during his tour.

Returning to the United States in 1952, he attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and, upon graduation, was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff G1 (redesignated Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel), Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.

In 1972, he retired to Biloxi and was very active in the community.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi Hamley Kitchens; and his parents, Cleta P. Kitchens of Greenville and Edward B. Kitchens, Sr., of Tulsa, OK.

Survivors include his two sons; son, Rodney Kitchens and wife, Linda of Lawrenceville, Ga., and their two children, Brendan of Honolulu and Virginia of Houston, Texas; and son, William Kitchens and wife, Rebecca of New Orleans, and their two children, Emmett and Owen, both also of New Orleans; and also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit the Kitchens family from 10 a.m. until noon on Thursday at the Riemann Family Funeral Home, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi. The funeral service will be at noon in the funeral home chapel. Interment with full military honors provided by the U.S. Army will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, in memory of his wife, Naomi Kitchens.

The guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com.