Richard Burton Kennah

Richard Burton Kennah, 87, lately of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away May 8, 2024, after a short illness. Richard was born May 25, 1936, in Ogden, Utah, to Bernard Patrick Kennah, Jr. and Lucille Afton Burton. He grew up in Fort Bridger, Wyoming, and Midvale, Utah, before moving to Kaysville, Utah, at age 13 with his parents and younger brother, Robert.

 

In 1958 Richard graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Utah and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the U.S. Air Force. He enjoyed a distinguished career with the military including a tour in Vietnam, 1968-69. Richard initially served as an Air Force meteorologist before completing an MS degree in Systems Management at the Air Force Institute of Technology and later served as a project manager for the F-16, before retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Richard earned a PhD in organizational psychology from Ohio State University and in retirement consulted and taught at a local college.

 

Richard married his teenage sweetheart, Carol Parker in July 1958. He and Carol spent four wonderful years living in France in the 1960s and traveled throughout Europe. Together they raised a family of five children while accepting assignments with the military overseas and throughout the United States. Richard was a true renaissance man, with many interests: literature, art, music, engineering, carpentry, politics, and geography. He had excellent recall and could quote long passages of literature or play complex piano compositions from memory or identify details of a plane flying 25,000 feet overhead, or the year, make, and model of a car whizzing past in a classic movie scene. Carol was a perfect mirror of his talents, sharing the same enthusiasm for the arts and culture. The beautiful desert location they chose for their retirement reflects their combined artistry and craftsmanship. In his retirement years, Richard beautified their desert home with custom bookshelves to hold their vast library with Carol as his willing assistant. Every room was filled with music and pieces of art collected from their travels during his military career or trips post-retirement. He and Carol loved to travel, and visited Russia, eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the Balkans after retirement.

 

Richard’s wife of 50 years, Carol Parker, preceded him in death in 2009. Richard was preceded in death by his son Vincent in 1996 and his brother Robert in 2006. Richard and Carol were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Richard was the beloved father of L. Jill Jacoby, Cory Parker Kennah (Roxanne), Leslie C. Merkle, and Andra Kennah (Mark Sneckenburg); and cherished grandfather to twelve grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren. The family would like to note with special gratitude the devoted care provided to Richard the last two years of his life by his daughter Andra Kennah.

 

Richard will be remembered for his quick mind, his integrity, strength of character, and his legacy of a life well lived.

 

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 31, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville Tabernacle, 198 W. Center Street, Kaysville, Utah.  Family and friends may visit Thursday May 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main St., Kaysville, Utah and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Tabernacle prior to the service.

 

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery, 500 E. Crestwood Rd., Kaysville, Utah.