Kenneth Durwood "K.D." Kennedy

KENNEDY, Kenneth Durwood "K.D.", 93, of Wilson, N.C., died Saturday at Duke University Medical Center. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Dr. Doug Murray and Rev. Bill Bussey will officiate. A private burial will be held in Maplewood Cemetery. K.D. Kennedy, born September 24, 1913, was the son of the late Alonza Walter Kennedy Jr. and Hannah Hodges Kennedy of La Grange. He received his education behind a plow as a farm boy, then at La Grange High School and at the University of North Carolina for one year during The Great Depression. During WWII, he worked with Fairchild Aircraft Company in Burlington, building the Corsair Airplanes that helped win the war in the Pacific. In 1946, he founded Electric Supply Company, which continues to serve electrical contractors, industrial companies, institutions and wholesale buyers after 61 years of operation. He loved his work and continued to drive himself to work at the age of 93 until three months ago. Satisfying his customers was only superceded by his love for his wife and family as his prime reason for living. Helping his beloved Wilson community was a close third. He served his community well. He was philanthropic with his time, as well as his assets, and his positive "can do" attitude helped enable many worthy organizations to survive and prosper in the Wilson area. He never saw a project that could not be achieved. He was a trustee emeritus of Barton College, deacon and member of The First Baptist Church of Wilson for over 50 years, former member of board of directors of BB&T Corp. and a member of the BB&T Corporate Finance Committee, a director of the The Boys and Girls Club of Wilson for decades, Chairman of the Wilson Community Chest and United Fund, member and former President of The Kiwanis Club of Wilson, President, camporee chief, and longtime layman for East Carolina Council of The Boy Scouts of America. He would not accept many awards offered for his service to his community. He was particularly proud of The Silver Beaver and The Silver Buffalo awards that he received from The Boy Scouts of America. One of his favorite blessings was The Philmont Grace, "For food, for raiment, for life, for opportunity, for friendship and fellowship, we thank Thee, O Lord. Amen"; and he lived by those words. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Dorothy Zelma Barrow Kennedy, formerly of Zebulon. Their life together was a wonderful story of mutual love and commitment. Also survived by a daughter, Susan Kennedy Smith and husband, Jack Smith, of Richmond, Va.; a son, K.D. Kennedy Jr. and wife, Sara Lynn Riley Kennedy, of Raleigh, N.C.; five grandchildren, Dustin Smith of Richmond, Va., Ken Kennedy III, Katherine Riley Kennedy both of Raleigh, N.C., Lauren Kennedy and husband, Alan Campbell, of New York City, and Michael Wesley Kennedy of Raleigh, N.C.; four great-grandchildren, Fiona Kennedy Kelly, Aidan Daniel Kelly, Gavin Joseph Kelly and Riley Rose Campbell. The family will receive friends 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Joyner's Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in his memory be made to East Carolina Council of The Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 1698, Kinston, N.C. 28503; Boys and Girls Club of Wilson, P.O. Box 96, Wilson, N.C. 27894; Barton College, P.O. Box 5000, Wilson, N.C. 27893; or The First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1467, Wilson, N.C. 27894. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.