Denny Kidwell Obituary

Denny Eugene Kidwell, aged 80, lost his nine-year battle with cancer. Never a quitter, he fought the disease with everything he had. Denny passed away at his home on the Kidwell Ranch in Dixon, CA on September 14, 2025. Denny was born on November 8, 1944, in Bakersfield, CA to parents, Homer Eugene Kidwell and Ruby Edith Kidwell (nee Denny). Denny's father, Homer Eugene Kidwell had a hay baling business and his mother Ruby, was a homemaker. The family moved to Dixon in 1955 to help Homer's ailing uncle, Claude Kidwell, run the family farming business on the Kidwell Ranch. Denny attended Dixon schools and graduated from Dixon High School in 1962 where he lettered in basketball, baseball, and track. Denny received his B.S. degree in Ag. Econ from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1966. Following his college graduation Denny returned to Dixon and worked for various ag businesses in the area until he took over the family farming operation 1985. Denny loved everything about farming. It was his true passion in life. He farmed a variety of crops over the years, including tomatoes, wheat, corn, various vine seed and in the last 15 years planted walnut orchards. Denny took great pleasure in driving around the family ranch at sunrise and sunset seeing the progression of the crops. Denny's lifelong love of sports and his competitive nature led him to participate in Dixon and Woodland area recreational league basketball and softball teams. Denny suffered from bad knees and hated to run the bases, so he was known to hit the long ball, often resulting in home runs. He also played rugby and coached women's softball. Denny's hobbies included stargazing and astronomy, watching sports and old western movies on TV, and listening to recordings of old radio shows that he enjoyed as a kid, like Amos & Andy and The Lone Ranger. He loved family dinners when his niece and great-nieces made all the dishes he grew up with-he especially loved fried okra and fried green tomatoes, always leaving room for desserts. He loved the music of the 50's and 60's. Favorites included Frankie Laine and the Everly Brothers. Denny was a member of the Dixon Freemasons Lodge #134. Denny also served on the Dixon May Fair board where he was pleased to bring big name entertainment to the Dixon May Fair. Denny was a complicated man; a bit difficult to some, but to many he was a kind, caring and generous person. He loved to tease his nieces and nephews and could always be counted on to tell a funny or embarrassing story about something someone did and bring laughter to any family gathering. Throughout his battle with cancer Denny remained positive and upbeat, never feeling sorry for himself. He was dearly loved by his family, and his guiding presence and quick wit will be sorely missed. Denny is survived by his life partner of 48 years, Sylvia C. Darrough. Denny was preceded in death by his parents, Homer Eugene Kidwell and his mother Ruby Edith Kidwell as well as his older sister Barbara Jean Kidwell Hays Martinez. He is also survived by his niece Leslye Jean Hays (Tony Lopez) of Dixon, and nephews William Bradley Hays of Sacramento and Stewart Eugene Hays of Hayden, Idaho; great-nieces Veronica Nicole Freitas (Matt Freitas) and Alexandria Justine Lopez (Alexander Kaufmann) and great-great niece Haylee Nicole Freitas and great-great nephew Brandon Matthew Freitas all of Dixon. He is also survived by his life partner Sylvia's family, including her sister Anita Sorum (Dave) of Rocklin, CA; niece April Sturdivant (Mark) of Bluffton, SC and nephew Matthew Thompson (Diane) of Ray, North Dakota as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Denny Kidwell will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 10:00am at the Milton Carpenter Funeral Home, 569 North 1st Street, Dixon, CA. Burial will follow at the Dixon Cemetery. In addition, friends are welcome to pay their respects during visitation on the evening of Wednesday, September 24th from 5pm to 8pm. In lieu of flowers mourners may donate to the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (https://cancer.ucsf.edu/support/immunotherapy/donate) or a charity of their choosing.