Kenneth Raymond Kirwin

On September 23, 2025, Kenneth's heavenly Father called him home at the age of 86. He was born on April 14, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA. He left Philadelphia around age 17 to begin working on boats which led him to become a merchant marine traveling around the world multiple times. He loved the adventure of traveling and being on the ocean, but things changed when he met and married the love of his life Ellen. As the family grew, Ken left the merchant marines and began his career working on tug boats until his retirement so that he would be home more to help Ellen raise their children.

Off the waters, Ken was an avid reader and a lifelong Philadelphia fan. He would take the kids to the baseball games (to give Ellen a break) and when the kids asked why they were in the bleachers Ken would tell them the view is better here. Ken and Ellen loved to travel and take the kids on vacation. One hilarious story he told was when he got stopped for speeding on the way home from a vacation. He told the officer to look in the back of the car where the kids and dog was and all he wanted was to get home. The officer let him go without a ticket.

As the children left home, Ken and Ellen started traveling to Keeneland Race Track in Kentucky every April for his birthday. This in turn led Ken and Ellen to travel across the US going for weeks at a time. Together their travels painted a tapestry of cherished memories of the places and people met along the way.

Ken is predeceased by his parents, the love of his wife Ellen, and his son John. He leaves behind his sons Kristopher and James and his daughters-in-law Gloria and Nila as well as his grandchildren James Jr and Jacqueline (daughter of John). Ken also was considered "Pop" to James' stepdaughters Kaitlyn and Sarah.

The family plans to hold a gathering to honor Ken next spring. The date and place will be announced at a later time.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Wilmington Funeral & Cremation - Wilmington Chapel, 1535 S. 41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403, (910) 791-9099.