Kenneth B. Eaves

Kenneth B. Eaves, 82, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on May 6, 2025. Ken was born on September 3, 1942 in Boston to Earl and Sally Eaves and was their only child. Ken grew up in Quincy and lived in Norwell for nearly 50 years, where he and his wife Joan raised their five children.

As a youth and into adulthood, Ken attended Central Baptist Church in Quincy. Later in life, he was a Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Scituate. From junior high through his sophomore year in high school, Ken was a carrier for The Patriot Ledger. As a teenager, his interest in hot rods and car repair began in earnest, often working on them with neighborhood friends.

Ken graduated North Quincy High in 1961. It was there that he met his future wife, Joan Babson. Their marriage would come later, in 1966. In September of 1961, Ken enlisted in the United States Army and began a brief, but heroic period of his life.

He attended the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, AL, completing his courses in aircraft maintenance in January 1962. He then was sent to Viet Nam in April 1962, where he was stationed in Soc Trang, a major helicopter base 100 miles Southwest of Saigon, as part of the 93rd Transportation (Light Helicopter) Company. This group became known as the Soc Trang Flying Tigers, for their mascot, Tuffy, an adopted Bengal tiger. There, he volunteered as a light machine gunner on the H-21 "flying banana" helicopter and on January 2, 1963 he was engaged in the Battle of Ap Bac. His actions were recognized in the US House of Representatives on January 29, 1963 by James A. Burke of Massachusetts, whose remarks cited a news story that appeared in the Patriot Ledger, relating that during that battle, Ken participated in five missions, was shot down twice and was wounded in the leg. On one mission, despite being covered in oil, he continued to fire his machine gun until his helicopter crashed. He then waded across 100 yards of knee-deep mud to reach a rescue helicopter. In addition to being awarded the Purple Heart, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by US Army Chief of Staff General Earle G. Wheeler for heroism.

Upon discharge from the Army, Ken was employed by Northeast Airlines as an aircraft mechanic and eventually followed his boyhood passion of working on cars by opening Ken's Foreign Auto on Rte. 3A in Cohasset, which was a fixture of the community for many years, specializing in Volkswagen Beetles. The men he worked with were also close friends, particularly Jay and Malcolm Campbell and Paul Snow.

In May 1977, he received an Associate Degree from Newbury Junior College, with a course of study in Management.

Ken's passions stretched beyond car repair, as he was a lifelong collector of model cars, trains, antique cars and automobile memorabilia, amassing an impressive collection through his participation in numerous annual flea markets and collectors' shows, as well as his networking with a wide group of collectors that became another extended group of friends. He loved the thrill of the hunt for collectibles and equally enjoyed the art of negotiation to get the best deal.

He was a voracious reader and loved to hold wide-ranging conversations with others, particularly relating to cars and history. He was the go-to babysitter for many of his grandchildren and was known for his generosity and willingness to treat others to a nice meal, especially at local seafood restaurants.

Ken is survived by his wife Joan and their five children: Andrew Eaves and his wife Judi; Rebecca DeBoer and her husband Jimmy; Rachel Riker; Sarah Mildrum; and Alex Eaves, as well as 13 grandchildren: Sam, Michaela, Maddie, Ally and Amanda Mildrum; William, Zachary, Benjamin and Eliza DeBoer; Catrina and Jacob Riker; Deina Mayo and her husband Eric and Heather Dance and her husband Raymond; and two great-grandchildren, Ellie Dance and Athena Mayo.

Burial services will be private and held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

DROZDAL FUNERAL HOME of Northampton, MA, has been entrusted with his care. For more information, or to leave the family a personal condolence, please visit Drozdalfuneralhome.com.