Obituary of Charles W. Kennedy

Charles “Bill” Kennedy died on February 26, 2018 at the age of  96.  He was predeceased by his parents Chalmers and Bessie Kennedy;  his former wife, Grace Kennedy; brother, Richard Kennedy; sister, Louise Petters; son-in-law, Walter Johnson and special friend, Rev. Donald Hostetter.  He is survived by his patient and loving wife, Marilyn Kennedy; three children, Lynda Johnson,  John Kennedy and Rebecca Wilsbach; four stepchildren, Henry Anthony, Arlene Anthony, Curtis Anthony and Amy Anthony.  Bill was born in 1921 in Huntingdon, PA and grew up during the Depression.  He graduated high school with the class of 1939.  With no jobs, no money for college, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served six year in Hawaii and state-side.  He served in World War II as an airplane and instrument mechanic and a liaison pilot.  He was a proud Pearl Harbor survivor and his ashes will be taken there.  After the war, he worked for 32 years at IBM.  He was a member of the American Legion and VFW and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church.  For 26 years, he was a vendor at the Elks Emporium in Owego, he collected and repaired vintage music boxes, was active in Scouting and  an EMT with the American Legion Ambulance Service in Owego. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lourdes Hospice, 4102 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY  13850.  Condolences may be expressed to Bill’s family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com.