Ed Kennedy (Bolivar)'s Obituary
On the afternoon of Jan 23, 2014, Ed passed away after a long battle with cancer at his home in Bolivar with family by his side. Ed was 82 years old.
Edsel Willard “Ed” Kennedy was born in town of Quincy, Missouri on March 2, 1931 to Lawrence and Cecil (Dietz) Kennedy, the third of 9 children.
Ed enlisted in the United States Air Force in Jan 1952, and retired honorably in Sept 1972. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, United Nation Korea Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal.
On April 20, 1957 Ed was united in marriage to Charlene Parker in Kansas City, Missouri. To this union were born 3 children: Kay, Gary and Jim.
After he retired from the USAF, he delivered rural mail for the United States Postal Service out of the Flemington, Missouri Post Office. He retired after 17 years to his farm in Humansville, Missouri.
Ed enjoyed many of the finer things in life, woodworking, gardening, sitting down for a game of checkers, mowing his yard, watching the Cardinals play ball, he even tried his hand at beekeeping. If there is one thing that consistently has Ed’s attention it was the price of gasoline. Instead of buying what a telemarketer was selling, he would end up asking what the price of gas was where they live.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Cecil Kennedy, and his three brothers, Sidney, Verl, and Elvin Kennedy.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Charlene Kennedy, Bolivar, Missouri and his 3 children: Kay Rice and her husband Marlin of Ames, IA; Gary Kennedy, Atlanta, GA; and Jim Kennedy and his wife Robin of Bolivar, MO. 5 siblings: Bob Kennedy and his wife Gwen of Wheatland, Missouri; Zada Maupin and her husband Bill of Independence, Missouri; Sue Sherman and her husband Larry of Wheatland, Missouri; Lee Kennedy and his wife Carol of Avery, Missouri; Judy McDaniel and her husband Chester of Kansas City, Missouri. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Cody Rice and his wife Anna of Peoria, Illinois; Kendra Verash and her husband Kyle of Georgetown, Texas; William Kennedy of Springfield, Missouri; Jeanna Kennedy Gaik and her husband Jon of St. Louis, Missouri; Sarah Basnight of Pencecola, Florida; Jarred Kennedy of Springfield, Missouri; and Stephanie Wright and her husband Jacob of Waxahachie, Texas. 4 great-grandchildren: Mauren Rice and Emerick Rice both of Peoria, Illinois; Connor Kennedy of San Antonio, Texas; and Tristin Wright of Waxahachie, Texas. Ed will be missed.
Services will be held at 2 PM, on Sunday, January 26th, 2013, at the Rondo Baptist Church, Hwy 83 and East 340th Rd, Rondo, Missouri. Please deliver flowers to Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar, MO. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the AMVETS, 5th District Honor Guard, 703 E. Main Street, Humansville, MO 65674.
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