Ralph Edward Kennedy

Many a fish in Barton Lake can breathe a sigh of relief as Ralph Edward Kennedy passed away on the morning of 09 December 2019. So too will the geese rest easy as no more will they be assaulted by bottle rockets from the deck.

Ralph was born 19 August 1945 to the parents of Joseph James Alvin Kennedy Sr (Alvin) and Hazel Lucille Tomlinson Kennedy in Gary, Indiana. Little did they know what an adventure they would have with their son Ralph but a rambunctious and traveling son they did raise.

Ralph graduated from Hobart High School in 1964 where he met Linda Kearby. Crazy in love, Linda drove across the country to marry Ralph in California just before he deployed on his first foreign journey to Vietnam as a Marine Forward Observer, a Sargent with the 2nd Field Artillery. This would be the first of many travels during his life time as he definitely had the “wanderlust.”

Ralph and Linda had a daughter, Lynette (Timmons) born just months before he would receive an Honorable discharge and return to civilian life. This delay in returning home meant Ralph never remembered the correct birthdate of his first born. Two years later they had a son, Paul Kennedy who would prove the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Life is complicated and Ralph and Linda would divorce, and Ralph married (and divorced) Arlene Carly. They too had a son Kelley Kennedy. Arlene had a son from a previous marriage (James Fisk) whom Ralph would form a strong bond with. And so, there were 4 children to provide life lessons to.

Ralph wore many hats and indeed was often seen wearing: his Marine cover, a welding mask, a construction hard hat, a writer’s quill, a chef’s hat, a fishing hat and of course his signature fedora. He was also a son, brother to MANY, father, husband, grandfather, uncle, soldier, plumber, welder, construction supervisor, wonderer of the globe, a comedian, breaker of rules and spent many of his last days a fisherman.

His children have followed suit with his love of adventure. Two of the boys followed in his Marine Corp footsteps. The daughter would share his love of traveling the globe. We all share his love for movies especially SciFi and Marvel adventures, and we all have that gene which takes us a little on the wild side.

Ralph was a big personality in any room in any situation. People gravitated to his sense of humor, his generosity (he always bought a round) and his sense of adventure. He was not afraid to GO BIG, which certainly resulted in a few broken laws and a few broken hearts. ALL of those who knew Ralph certainly have a wild and crazy story to tell. Ralph lived a colorful life that will be missed by many.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Lucille Kennedy and his sisters Marilyn, Honore, Dori and Dorothy and a brother Paul.

Ralph is survived by his bothers James and Joseph Kennedy and his sister Elaine Kennedy. He leaves behind sons Paul Kennedy, Kelley Kennedy (wife Gina) and Jim Fisk and daughter Lynette (husband Jason Timmons).

Also surviving are three grandchildren Matthew Kennedy, Jordan Timmons and Morgan Timmons whom he loved very much.

Please do not send flowers! In lieu of flowers please send donations to a Veteran’s association of your choice or at this time of the year your local Toys for Tots.