KENNEDY
Donald Robert Kennedy passed away suddenly February 1st at the age of 80. Don was born September 9, 1942, to Cecile Rose and Elsa Oakle Kennedy. Don was the middle child of five children and grew up first in Windsor Heights and later in West Alexander, WV.
He married Marjorie (Megale) on December 21, 1964, in a small Methodist church in Wheeling, WV. Shortly after their marriage, Don was drafted into the army and served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter mechanic. When his father died, he was honorably discharged from the military and returned home to work in the steel mill and coal mines around Wheeling, WV.
He and Marj had three daughters, Jennifer (Windhausen), Jill (LeClair), and Julie (Fuhrken). When their daughters were still small, Don answered the call to ministry and entered what was then called Kentucky Christian College (now, University). While attending KCC, Don preached two part-time ministry placements at a Christian church in Stambough, KY, and Zion Church of Christ in Rutland, OH.
Upon his graduation from college, Don followed God’s leading and moved his young family to Liverpool, NY, to become senior minister at Liverpool Christian Church. During his tenure there, he led the church to becoming fully self-supporting and oversaw a building expansion. After ten years, Don took a position leading a church-plant in Harrisburg, PA. Following this, he moved to Williamsport, PA, and worked a variety of jobs while serving in a volunteer position at the Christian Church at Cogan Station.
Later, he and Marj moved back to New York, taking a position at Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse. During his time there, he served as Director of the Adult Home at Hidden Falls, and was privileged to preach part-time at a church on the Northside of Syracuse that was attended by many immigrants from Vietnam. During this time, he was not only able to share with them his memories of the beauty of their country, but they were able to find healing together from some of the emotional scars of the war. After this, he and Marj returned to full-time ministry at Lake Country Christian Church in Seneca Falls, NY, where he served as senior minister for more than 20 years.
Don entered retirement in May 2016, but didn’t stay there long. He began preaching as interim minister at various churches almost immediately, and then in May 2019, he accepted his final full-time position in the Ministry at Dunlap Christian Church in Crows, VA. He often mused that his life had come full circle, returning to the hills of Virginia/West Virginia that were a few hours from where he was born. Don preached his final sermon there just days before his passing.
Throughout his lifetime of service in ministry, Don was unwavering in his love for his beautiful wife. Together, they raised their girls, welcomed sons-in-law, and became the proud grandparents of 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Don was born a country boy and enjoyed hunting and fishing from the time he was a small child until just before his death. He was a skilled mason and was adept at woodworking and fixing most mechanical things. He was thrilled to tell people about his many mission trips to the Dominican Republic, and his travels with Marj to England, Ireland, and France. Don had a natural humor that put people at ease. He often joked that he graduated high school 13th out of 13 students and marveled that God could take a boy out of the woods of West Virginia and give him the ability to graduate college and begin a preaching ministry that would lead him to New York and then on to the world. This humble nature drew people to him, as he drew them to Jesus.
Don is predeceased by his mother and father; his sister, Shirley Pavlic; and his brother, William “Bill” Kennedy. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marjorie (Megale); their three daughters, Jennifer Windhausen (Edward), Jill LeClair (Scott), and Julie Fuhrken (Daniel); his 9 grandchildren and the spouses that have been added; as well as his 4 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters, Sharon Connors (Fred) and Sandra Sine (Wyatt); as well as many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, 405 Alleghany St., Clifton Forge, VA, with Reverend Bill Gilliland officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the funeral home by members of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 VFW. The family will visit with friends on Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. until the time of service at Nicely Funeral Home. Following the service, his body will be cremated.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or to Dunlap Christian Church, C/O Larry Canterberry, 2353 Kanawha Trail, Covington, VA 24426.
To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.
Information submitted by Nicely Funeral Home of Clifton Forge, VA.
