Submitted by: John C. Monk

William R. Kennedy Jr.

Oct. 9, 1922 - May 11, 2009
SOUTH BEND - William R. Kennedy Jr., 86, passed away after an illness on Monday, May 11th, at 4:20 a.m. in Memorial Hospital. He was born October 9, 1922, to the late William R. and Helen (Hennes) Kennedy. On December 21, 1947, he married Eunice R. Hillerman, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Susan R. (Stephen) Hunter; a son, William C. (Pamela) Kennedy; his grandchildren, Benjamin R. Senff of South Bend, Sarah E. Senff of Indianapolis and Allison L. Kennedy of Niles; several nieces and nephews; and a cousin, Alice E. Kennedy of Spokane, Washington. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Helenglen Holifield; a brother, Jack; and a nephew, Lloyd Holifield. Bill grew up at Culver Military Academy where his father was an instructor and officer. He had many happy memories of Culver and of the family cottage in the upper peninsula of Michigan. He continued to support the academy throughout his life. Bill retired from Carleton Financial Computations in 1986. He had previously worked at Bendix Corporation in Mishawaka as the supervisor of technical publications. Prior to that he was employed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, CA. He graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1940. His academic training included the Art Institute of Chicago and graduation from John Herron Art School in Indianapolis in 1944. He then spent several years teaching, first at the senior high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (1945-46), then at John Herron Art School in Indianapolis (1947). The years from 1948 to 1951 he spent teaching at the Monticello College in Alton, IL. He was a proud member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, of which his father was a founding member of the Vincennes, IN, Chapter. In accordance with Bill's wishes, cremation has taken place. An informal gathering to remember Bill's life will be held at ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend, on Saturday, June 13th, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. For those unable to attend, online condolences for the family may be sent at www.sjfh.net. Memorial contributions may be made to Culver Academies at www.Culver.org or to the National Parkinson Foundation at www.parkinson.org.

Published in South Bend Tribune from 5/16 to 5/17/2009