L. Malcolm Kennedy, age 96, formerly of Paducah, KY, passed away beautifully on January 3, 2025 in Louisville, KY with family by his side. He was born on March 30, 1928 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and came to the United States in 1944 when he was 16. Malcolm was a gentleman and a loving, accepting father.
Mal excelled at cricket in his youth in Trinidad and was captain of his soccer team at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, OH where he graduated in 1946. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1953 with a chemical engineering degree. He met Grace Lorenz while at RPI in Troy, NY whom he married in 1952. He was employed at BF Goodrich for 37 years primarily in Calvert City, KY where he worked as plant foreman. He was a caring boss who was well respected and will be remembered fondly by many who worked there.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Noemi Seheult and William Kennedy, and by his wife, Grace, after 40 years of marriage. He was one of six boys, the last remaining son, preceded by Harold, Dick, John, Ralph and Paul Kennedy. Also preceding him in death were his son, Hugh Swift Kennedy, and his daughter-in-law, Coulleen Lees.
Left to cherish his memory are his children: Sue Korlan, Fr. David Kennedy, Carol Kennedy (Coulleen Lees, deceased), Eileen Kennedy (Greg Cloyd), Janice Reeder, Kathleen Kennedy (Gary Qualls), Larry Kennedy (Tracey McKibben Kennedy), Joseph Kennedy (Leonard Loh), Mary Kennedy (Jeff Carpenter) and Jeanne Kennedy (David Treves). Surviving are his grandchildren: Ben and Liam Cloyd, Emily Woods, Linus Qualls, Jeffrey Reeder, Jackie Humphrey, Declan Carpenter, Sam and Jack Kennedy, and Gabriel, Rui, and Micah Treves; great-grandchildren Riley, Sofia, Kelly and Will Cloyd, Noah, Anessa and Solomon Woods and Mason Qualls. Also left behind are his best friends, Ed and Peggy Taylor. We thank his caregivers, Tonia Akins, Marsha Camp, June Davis, Stacey Gardner, Heather Heath and Aquilla Jackson. They made his life a little sweeter.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2025 at St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church with his son, Father David Kennedy officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. with prayers and a time of sharing memories beginning at 1:00 p.m..
Donations in his memory can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the charity of your choice.
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
