Kenneth Paul Kidwell

Kenny was born on November 5, 1942, in Cincinnati, OH, to the late Paul E. Kidwell and Josephine (Travis) Kidwell. He was the beloved husband to Elizabeth Carol Kidwell for 52 years. He was the devoted Daddy of Kenneth Aaron Kidwell (Lisette) and Angela Noelle Hoover (Jon); and proud Papaw of Emily Elizabeth Hoover, Rachel Olivia Hoover, Jonathan Zachary Hoover and Lissa Elizabeth Kidwell.

He is survived by his brother, Ron Kidwell (Jennifer) and sisters Carol Gay (Charlie) and Rosie Hatfield (Glynn) and over 40 nieces and nephews. Brother George Kidwell and sisters Pauline Kidwell, Goldie Lay and Bertie Wilson precede him in death.

He spoke often and fondly about his memories of growing up in Over-the-Rhine and the antics of he and his 7 siblings, cousins and neighborhood friends.

Kenny served in the U.S. Army, 1st Battalion, 83rd Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he received the Good Conduct Medal and an award for Rifle Marksman. It was during this time, he met and courted, via letters, his wife Liz. They met at Evendale First Church of God in December, 1965 and were married there on June 4th, 1966.

Kenny retired from the Ford Motor Company Sharonville Transmission Plant in 1999 after 36 years of faithful service on an assembly line. He worked 60 long, hard hours every week in a hot, oily factory to provide for the family he loved so much. Every summer, when the plant shut down for maintenance, he relished planning a family vacation. Over the years, he managed to visit all 50 states and Canada as well. Some of his favorite trips were to Williamsburg, Virginia; Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Canyon National Parks; Hawaii; many Florida beaches/Walt Disney World; and even several of the Kentucky State Parks.

Kenny was an avid reader of the daily newspapers and could explain anything you wanted to know about current events. He loved talking politics and was a diehard pro-life Republican. (He was very happy about the most recent presidential election). Besides reading, he helped coach his son’s and daughter’s baseball/softball teams. He enjoyed watching Reds Baseball, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, FOX news and Saddle-Up Saturday westerns. Even after working such long days, he always joyfully had time for his kids whether it was collecting baseball cards, tossing baseball, playing a backyard game of badminton or wiffle ball, swimming, having ping pong tournaments, being a piano lesson chauffeur, catching a drive-in movie, going to Kings Island, having a backyard campout, playing endless hours of board games, and faithfully spending every Sunday morning at church. As his grandchildren entered the picture, he did his best to do the same for them as long as his health would allow him.

The past several years as he became physically limited, he spent a lot of time doting on his little Chihuahua named Friend. She brought him great comfort and companionship, holding her, caring for her and watching her play. Everyone he met, knew of his sweet little “ baby Friend.”

Nothing came before his faith, his family or his love of his country. You would never have met a kinder, gentler or more soft-spoken and patient man.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 11th from 10 am-Noon with service following at Noon at the Breiel Blvd. Church of God, 2000 North Breiel Blvd., Middletown, OH 45042, Pastor Jake Garmany officiating. Graveside service with military honors will follow at the Mound Cemetery in Monroe.