William "Bill" Kennedy, Sr. Obituary

William Hubert Kennedy, M.A., age 89, of Estero, Florida, passed away after extended illness on Sunday morning, May 18, 2025, at The Virginian, a senior’s community in Fairfax, Virginia. “Bill” (as he liked to be called) was born July 25, 1935, in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, the son of the late Hubert Owen Kennedy and Lillian Rachael (Wilson) Kennedy.

Bill was preceded in death by his “angel” and wife, Linda D. (Wood) Kennedy, his brothers Jimmie Lee Kennedy and Wilson Ray Kennedy, and his sisters Louise Prow and Betty Carter. Bill is survived by his sister Polly Ann Carter, of Dawson Springs, Kentucky; his two sons, William H. Kennedy Jr. of Falls Church, Virginia and B. Keith Kennedy, of Old Town, Maine; and one granddaughter, Alexandra L. Kennedy, of Falls Church, Virginia. Bill leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews and a legion of friends from his work and travels around the country and world.

A decorated veteran, Bill had a 23-year career in the US Air Force, as a special investigator in the Air Police and as a Strategic Air Command Security Specialist, eventually rising to the highest NCO rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal four times, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and in 1978 received the United States Meritorious Service Medal. His USAF career took him around the world, including Presque Isle, Maine; Ramstein, Germany; Wake Island in the Pacific; Korat, Thailand; and eventually back to Maine, where he retired on March 20, 1978, at Loring AFB. Following retirement from the USAF, Bill worked in corrections and law enforcement, eventually serving 17 years at the University of Maine Orono, where he retired as the Director of Judicial Affairs on April 20, 1999.

Bill was a talented basketball player with a legendary vertical jump. He played for four years at Dalton High School, a year at Murray State, and then was the leading scorer for the Ramstein Rams in 1959-1962. Under the USAF “bootstrap” program, Bill studied criminal justice, and in 1972 was awarded a Master of Arts Degree from Washington State University based on his Master’s Thesis, entitled, “A Treatise on the United States Serviceman’s Constitutional Rights to Free Speech.”

Above all, Bill was a follower of Christ. He loved to read and discuss the Bible and was deeply involved with church life wherever he went, serving as a Sunday School teacher and a deacon.

After retirement from UMaine, Bill and his wife “Lynn” built their dream home on Bob’s Cove in Jonesboro, Maine, and were active members of the Jonesboro Union Church on Looks Point Road. During winters, they travelled to Estero, Florida, where they had a home in Riverwoods Plantation. When Lynn passed away in 2019, Bill moved to Virginia to be closer to family.

A graveside service honoring the life of William Hubert Kennedy, Sr. will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Old Beulah Cemetery with Elder Jeff Winfrey officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

The funeral procession will leave Beshear Funeral Home, 201 North Main Street, Dawson Springs, KY, at 12:40 P.M.