Richard K. Aitken

Private Richard Knight Aitken was born in Camden NJ on March 4, 1905, the eldest child of Marion and Richard C. Aitken. His father was a bank manager in Camden, born in England, and a 33rd Degree Mason. In 1920 the family lived at 225 Linden Street, along with his sister Clara and younger brother Edward K. His grandparents, William C. and Elizabeth Aitken, lived nearby at 205 Pearl Street. William C. Aitken had come to America in 1869 and had been a prominent builder in his day. The family attended the Centenary Tabernacle Church in Camden.

Richard Aitken attended the Cooper School in Camden and graduated from Camden High School in 1923. He went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania for two years, before going to work in the credit department at J.B. Van Sciver’s furniture business. His younger brother Edward graduated from Camden High School in January of 1928.

By 1930 the family had moved to a home at 328 Penn Street. Richard was by this time the credit manager at the J.B. Van Sciver furniture factory; his sister and brother were both working at a bank, more than likely the one managed by their father. Clara Aitken was also active in the Sigma Delta Nu sorority. Richard K. Aitken’s uncle, Edward C. Aitken, had purchased the house next door at 326 Penn Street, where he lived with his widowed sister Isabel A. Shedaker and the by-then 84-year-old grandfather, William C. Aitken.

Richard K. Aitken was inducted into the United States Army in August 1942. He was stationed at Harding Field in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when he died on February 17, 1943. He was survived by his parents, his brother Edward, his sister Clara, and his brother-in-law Lester Chegwidden. Funeral services were held at 423 Cooper Street. His death was reported in the February 22, 1943 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.