Kenneth Albert Heavel, Jr.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Kenneth A. Heavel, Jr. passed away. He was the beloved husband of the late Sandra Lee Heavel (nee Bell) for 52 years; loving father of Kenneth III, Cecelia and the late Martha; dear grandfather of 6 and great grandfather of 16. He was predeceased by his 2 brothers and 1 sister and is the uncle of a host of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Burgee-Henss-Seitz Funeral Home, Inc. 3631 Falls Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 on Friday, June 6, 2025 from 3-5 PM & 7-9 PM. A Celebration of Kenneth's Life will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, June 7, 2025 starting at 11:30 AM.

Interment to follow at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 2150 Mt View Road, Marriottsville, Maryland 21104.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ken's Memory to the Strawbridge School, 3300 Gaither Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21244.

A fiercely independent and devoted family man, Kenneth married the love of his life Sandra at just 17 and had three children by the age of 21. He bought his first and only home at 18, where he and his bride lived together for 51 years. After her passing in 2013, he continued to live there for 12 more years making it 62 years total. Always willing to lend a hand, he poured concrete and built decks for neighbors while juggling side jobs to support his growing family. He worked with various contractors over the years, but found stability and pride working at Tech Contracting Inc. from age 51 until his retirement at 70. A lover of the outdoors, he cherished camping trips to Wildwood, New Jersey with his family, fishing getaways to Ocean City, and was never one to miss a weekly card game. A natural leader, Kenneth coached the citywide baseball team that made it to nationals in Tennessee and mentored a local 6-man football team for a decade. He was a proud lifetime member of IORM Hampden chapter, where he and his wife faithfully ran Saturday night bingo for 20 years. He was a staple of the Annual Hampden Mayor’s Parade, joyfully decorating his truck and donning full regalia. A passionate coin collector and proud former resident of the Strawbridge Home for Boys, he often credited that experience with shaping his strength and resolve. Known for his blunt honesty, unwavering toughness, and unmatched stubbornness, he stood his ground—whether in an argument or against men twice his size. Even as age slowed others, he insisted on his independence, driving until late 2024 despite a trail of fender benders, offering to pay rather than relinquish his keys. Kenneth was a true original—gritty, loyal, and full of heart—and his spirit will live on in the stories he left behind.