Joseph Cecil Kennedy, Jr.

Joseph Cecil Kennedy, Jr., 84, passed away peacefully with his wife and family by his side in Bel Air, Maryland, on April 10, 2021. Joe was born in Atlanta, Georgia and was the only child of Vera Louise Farmer Kennedy and Joseph Cecil Kennedy in 1937. He graduated The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where he earned a BS in Commerce and was commissioned in the US Army in 1958. Joe was a Major in the US Army serving in Korea, Germany and 2 tours in Vietnam as a pilot, flying both CV-2B Caribou Cargo aircraft and OV-1 Mohawk aircraft. He was a lifetime member of the OV-1 Mohawk Association, #101. He received The Broken Wing Award given to aviators who saved lives or aircraft during a mid-air emergency. He also received The Distinguished Flying Cross award which is given to members of the US Armed Forces for distinguished acts of heroism in aerial flight. After returning stateside, he was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, where he worked for the US Army Land Warfare Laboratory and Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity. Then he began his federal service as a logistician all the while serving in the Maryland Army National Guard as a CW4 helicopter pilot and flew the Cobra AH-1. After “retiring" from the National Guard, he continued serving at APG with the Army Test and Evaluation Command and finally retired with 46 years of military and federal service to our country.

Joe leaves behind his loving wife, Joyce Havenga Kennedy, his daughter, Shawn Kennedy Gordon and her husband Randy; daughter Trea Robinson O’Malley and her husband Michael along with their 2 children Alexandra and Eliza; and Kristen Robinson Murphy and her husband Mark along with their 2 children Jack and Logan. Joe will be remembered by family and friends as a proud patriot and enjoyed scuba diving, bow hunting, duck hunting, fishing, skiing, tennis, golf, international travel and was an avid dog lover. Some of Joe’s favorite things included entertaining, gourmet cooking and a generous glass of Jack Daniels.

He will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Due to Covid, Joe’s celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to The Humane Society of Harford County at harfordshelter.org or St. Jude Children’s Hospital at Stjude.org.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com.