Karl E. Kenyon

Karl Elwin Kenyon passed into eternal peace on March 28, 2010, after a courageous battle with pancreatic and liver cancer.
Born on Nov. 21, 1949, in Westerly, he was the cherished son of Elwin and Ellen (Rathbun) Kenyon Jr. of Charlestown. He leaves his devoted wife Patricia (Lindsley) Kenyon of Charlestown. Karl also leaves behind two sons, Eric Kenyon and his companion, Carrie Bauer of Plymouth, Minn., and Keith and his wife, Andi (Haggerty) Kenyon of Westerly. His sister, Kathleen (Kenyon) and her husband, John Hughes; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Holmes and her husband Roger; a brother-in-law, Fred Lindsley and his wife Deborah; four grandsons; one stepgrandson; two nieces; and two nephews are also left behind.
Karl achieved the rank of Life as a Boy Scout. He was also active as an assistant scout master with Ken Martin under the Scout Leader William Hays. He later was very active as an assistant scoutmaster of Troop 2 Misquamicut, Westerly, while his son Keith was a member.
Karl joined the Coast Guard in 1969. While in the Coast Guard, one of the ships that he was stationed on was turned over to the South Vietnamese. Karl was honorably discharged from the military as an E-4 Radarman Third Class Petty Officer.
He graduated from the North American School of Conservation in 1973.
Karl was a member of the Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist Church in Westerly and attended the Quonochontaug Baptist Church in Charlestown.
Karl worked for the RI DEM from 1984 to 2010. He held the following positions: Senior Forest Ranger, Principal Forest Ranger, and RI Wildland Fire Program Supervisor.
At the time of his passing, he was the Liaison Officer on the North East Forest Fire Protection Commission Incident Management Team. He was the Third Assistant Chief of the Dunn's Corners Fire Department where he volunteered from 1971 to present. He was a Certified Wildland Fire Instructor from 1990 to 2003. He trained firefighters in RI and at the Long Island Fire Academy. Karl was a member of the RI Western Fire Crew working with Massachusetts and Connecticut fire crews. The teams responded to over 15 states fighting wildland fires, where Karl was a squad boss, crew boss and engine boss.
Karl was instrumental in developing and implementing the current RI Basic Wildland Search and Rescue Course. He was an integral part of teaching the class through the RI Emergency Management Agency.
Overall, Karl spent his life taking care of his family, friends and community. However his true passion was teaching fire prevention following his mentor, "Smokey Bear." In 1993-1994, Karl was the chairperson for Smokey Bear's 50th celebration. Most of all, Karl will be missed for his sense of humor and especially his puns and one-liners.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce Street, Westerly. Funeral services will be held in the Seventh Day Baptist Church, 120 Main St., Westerly on Thursday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in River Bend Cemetery, Beach Street, Westerly.
For online condolences, please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com and the Dunn's Corners Fire Department at www.dunnscornersfire.com