John Staige "Bud" Kern

"Bud" John Staige Kern Culpeper - John (Bud) Staige Kern, age 86, passed away October 7, 2011 at the Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community, Culpeper, Virginia, following a battle with brain cancer.

John was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 4, 1925. After a brief period in Clinton, Illinois, his family settled in Paducah, Kentucky, where he graduated from Tilghman High School in 1943 as the valedictorian of his graduating class. Following a year of preparatory courses at the University of Louisville, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated through an accelerated war-time syllabus in the class of '48 with an engineering degree. He subsequently married his wife, Nancy (Rousseau) Kern in 1951 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

A career surface warfare officer, John earned his graduate degree from the Royal Naval College and went on to deploy all over the world, serving in numerous conflicts, campaigns, and the Vietnam War. Attaining the rank of Rear Admiral, his career spanned 31 years and included commands of the USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938) home ported in Mayport, Florida, Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla Nine (Flot-9) out of San Diego, California, and Combined Task Force Seventy Five (CTF-75) comprised of over 55 ships in the Vietnam theater. His many commendations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Combat "V", Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign. He retired in 1977 as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Surface Warfare.

Following his retirement from the Navy, John was the Shipyard Director for Newport Offshore LLC., in Newport, Rhode Island, a major shipbuilding and repair facility during the Newport's America's Cup years.

In 1983, he and Nancy moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where they opened the Sailor's Rest Bed and Breakfast and traveled often to visit family and friends. Following Nancy's death in 1995, John moved to Independence and subsequently Culpeper, Virginia to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

Throughout his life, he served the communities he lived in as a volunteer and leader in many positions including President of the St. Augustine Community Kitchen, the Senior Warden for St. Augustine's Trinity Episcopal Church, the committee chair on many church organizations, the President of his Home Owner's Association in Hidden Valley Community of Independence, and most recently as a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrews. An Eagle Scout and outdoor enthusiast, he was an active Boy Scout Leader, enjoyed golf, and was a certified Master Gardner.

He is survived by five children and their spouses: John Staige Kern Jr. and wife, Linda, Julia Kern Coates and husband, Johnny, James Addison Kern and wife, Diane, Geoffrey Nelson Kern and wife, Kirsten, and Dabney Rousseau Kern and wife, Patty. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Sarah Catherine Fudela, Melissa Britton Coates, Benjamin James Kern, James William Kern, Megan Elizabeth Kern, Victoria Britton Kern, John Dabney Kern, Jennifer Marie Kern, and Elizabeth Rousseau Kern, as well as many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Culpeper, Virginia at 11 a.m. Monday, October 10th. Family and Friends visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Preddy Funeral Home in Madison, Virginia. Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Stephens Episcopal Church Earthquake Damage Fund, 115 N. East Street Culpeper, VA 22701 or National Parkinson's Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Avenue/ Bob Hope Rd., Miami FL 33136-1494. Arrangements by Preddy Funeral Home, Madison.


This obituary was originally published in the Culpeper StarExponent.