James Edwin Kennedy (1917 - 1949)

Born 1917 in Kansas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elta Marie (Thompson) Kennedy — married 30 May 1947 in Lebanon, Smith, Kansas, United States

Died 12 Jan 1949 at about age 32 in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, United States

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Biography

Obituary

James Edwin Kennedy, son of David Ernest and Arminta Jane Kennedy, was born in 1917 in Kansas and left us January 12, 1949.

He went through boyhood, attending church and Sunday School in the Odessa community and attended the Esbon High School where he was graduated in 1935. He attended college at the Fort Hays State College, Hays, Kansas,

He loved outdoor activities and was outstanding in competitive sports. During his Freshman year at Hays he won his letter in football. He played baseball in the Ban Johnson League at Beloit and Larned and was a favorite of the fans, adding strength and moral support to the team.

He entered the United States Army March 6, 1941 at Fort Leavenworth. After basic training, maneuvers and two visits home on March 4, 1942, he was sent to Australia with the quartermaster where he served as 1st Sgt of his company. In August, 1943, at his own request he freely gave up the rating he had attained in order to be sent with the Amphibian Engineers to the fighting front. The boys whom he led during his tenure of sergeancy threatened an unheard-of sitdown strike if Sgt. Jim left them, but realizing it was his desire they let him go. He returned to the United States Nov 21, 1944 and received his discharge in Sept, 1945. He remained around Esbon until he moved to Marion, Kansas in July, 1947, where he has been employed by the Navrat Service Station. His mother fell ill shortly after his return from service, his devoted and tender care to her through this cannot be described.

On May 30, 1947, he was united in marriage to Elta Marie Thompson. To complete their happiness little Jill Eileen was born. There could not be a more tender and loving husband and father.

Whether you knew him as James, Pete or Jim his big smile and infectious personality touched you; a bright day was brighter; and dark clouds were lighter. Though the tragedy which took him from us fills us with shock and sorrow, we must know that it would have been his wish to go in just such a manner. Let us know that his goodness has carried him into a happy hereafter and let us not question the will of God.

James dear we shall miss you until we join you but in the meantime, as would be your wish and by the very strength of your character instilled in us by you, we will go forward with precious memories to sustain us.

Those who will miss him most are his wife and baby. Her parents, five brothers and a sister. His parents, Mr and Mrs D E Kennedy. Four sisters: Mrs Leo Obert and Mrs Wiley Sloan of Esbon, Mrs F C Obert, Red Cloud, Nebraska and Mrs Fred Muck, Marion, Kansas. Seven brothers: Dr Chas, Paso Robles, Calif., Forrest, Tacoma, Wash., Byron, Superior, Wisconsin, Morris, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Kenneth, Lebanon, Kansas and David and Donald of Esbon. One brother, Lyall, preceded him in death in 1931.

(This is the obituary originally written by his wife Elta and kept in her records, adapted here to exclude the specific date and place of birth.)

Additional Biographical Information

When James was small a neighbor named Pete had a speech impediment. When James was learning to talk, his brothers teased him and called him Pete. That nickname stuck and remained with him throughout his life.

Pete attended Fort Hays State College on a football scholarship. He played center. However, after his first year he chose to work rather than continue in college. He had very little money in college and expected to soon be drafted into the Army for World War II. The writings by many people in his college yearbook indicate that he was very popular in college.

Pete’s sister Jessie Muck lived in Marion, Kansas and that was a factor in Pete and Elta’s decision to live in Marion after they were married. During the time they lived there, Pete played on town league baseball and basketball teams.

In her letters written during their marriage, Elta said that Pete often did the laundry, took care of the baby, and generally took an interest in things around the home such a plants and furniture. He also built a chest of drawers and had a garden.

Pete died on January 12, 1949 at age 31 when the gasoline tanker truck he was driving was struck by a train at the railroad crossing at 37th Street and Broadway in Wichita, Kansas. This was two days after his daughter Jill’s first birthday. Elta was three months pregnant at the time. Their son James was born in June.

Pete was initially buried in the Odessa Cemetery, Jewell County, Kansas, near his family home. In 2005 is wife Elta moved his casket and gravestone to the Esbon Cemetery where she wanted to be buried beside him and add a larger stone.

(The additional information was written by Pete’s son Jim Kennedy.)

Sources

• Sources are noted in the text above.