K.D. Zumwalt, Former Stars and Stripes Editor, Dies

Kenneth D. Zumwalt, a former civilian managing editor of European Stars and Stripes who authored a book on his wartime experiences with the military newspaper, has died at his San Diego home. He was 78.

A retired assistant managing editor and Sunday editor of the San Diego Union, Zumwalt died in his sleep Wednesday of natural causes. Funeral services are pending.

Zumwalt got his first newspaper job as an office boy at the Sacramento Union in 1938, four years before he enlisted in the Army. In 1944 he was assigned to be a copy reader for the Paris edition of the Stars and Stripes, the unofficial newspaper of the U.S. armed forces in Europe.

The native Californian later worked on other editions of the Stars and Stripes in Belgium, France and Germany. He was discharged from the Army at Frankfurt in 1946 but continued with the service newspaper as civilian managing editor until he resigned in 1955.

Zumwalt joined the San Diego Union as a copy reader in 1956, and three years later was promoted to feature editor. He then became publisher and editor of the Borrego Sun in 1965.

One year later, Zumwalt was named general manager of SCAN Magazine and moved to Los Angeles. But two years later he returned to the San Diego Union as its Sunday editor, and retired in 1979 as assistant to the editor.

Zumwalt spent many years writing a book on his wartime experiences with the military newspaper. “The Stars and Stripes: World War II and the Early Years” was published in 1989.

Earlier this year, Zumwalt traveled to Germany to attend the 50th anniversary of the Stars and Stripes.

Survivors include Zumwalt’s wife, Paulette; sons Richard and Roger, both of Los Angeles; daughter Sherie Freemuth of Idaho; and two grandchildren.