Eugene "Bud" James Kennedy

Kennedy, Eugene J. “Bud”, 66, passed away after a brief illness on Monday, March 2, 2015. He was the loving husband of Loretta (Pannone) Kennedy to whom he was married for 41 years. Born in Providence, RI, he was a son of the late Eugene James Sr. and Winifred (Hudson) Kennedy.

Bud was a proud US Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War, stationed on the USS Forrestal out of Norfolk, VA. He was also stationed in Iceland. He was a Shipping Supervisor at the Pilling Chain Company and also the Okonite Company. He was a part-time bartender at the Lincoln Bar in Riverside while earning his Business Degree at Johnson & Wales College. In his later years, he was a grounds keeper at the RI Country Club. Due to a disability, he had to retire early, but he was still able to tend to his garden, do Sudoku puzzles and the Daily Jumble and thoroughly enjoyed being with his grandchildren. Buddy was a meticulous painter and took pride in making improvements in his home and helping his son-in-laws with their home projects. Buddy was the proud owner of a 1986 Pontiac Firebird and enjoyed "T-topping" around town in the warm weather. Buddy often had his jokes featured on 94 HJY's "Stump the DJ" and won several times. He was also a member of the Elks and a life member of the American Legion. He will be fondly remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor and for being a generous and loyal man to his family and friends.

Besides his wife, he is also survived by his daughters, Laurie Ezovski and her husband Mike of Cumberland and Deborah Higgins and her husband Jay of Bristol; brothers, James J. Kennedy of Chesapeake Beach, MD and Robert E. Kennedy of Riverside; and his grandchildren; Brandon, Brendt, James and Sara.

His funeral services will be on Tuesday, March 10th at 9 AM from the Wilbur-Romano Funeral Home, 615 Main Street, Warren with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in St. Luke's Church, 108 Washington Rd., Barrington. Burial with Military Honors will be in the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 12:30 PM, Exeter. Calling hours, Monday 4 - 7 PM. Contributions may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, 1 State St., #200 Providence, RI 02908.