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Temple R. Kennedy Jr. Sept. 4, 1923 ~ Feb. 14, 2013
February 06, 2013, 9:06 am by Staff Reports
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He was born Sept. 4, 1923, in Rockwood, Texas, in Coleman County. He was the youngest of four children born to Temple Richard Kennedy and Nancy Francelia (Lawrence) Kennedy. He attended Brownwood High School and played football there.
Kennedy attended Texas A&M and walked on to the A&M football team, however, for two years his academics were interrupted by World War II.
In the US Army’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS), forerunner to the CIA, he served with Detachment 101, which was a Special Forces unit specializing in unconventional warfare operations behind Japanese lines in Burma. He was decorated for valor three times during that campaign, which included two Bronze Stars, one with V-device for combat valor, and the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The citation for the Bronze Star with V device stated in part that under heavy small-arms fire from a superior force and with disregard for his personal safety, he left a position of cover to safely pull a wounded comrade over 40 yards to safety.
He returned to A&M after the war and completed a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He later served in the Korean Conflict, National Guard, and Army Reserves,
achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring. He also enjoyed a long and successful engineering career with the Texas Highway Department and Dallas County Public Works.
A faithful husband and proud father, Kennedy and his wife of almost 54 years, Maureen Elizabeth (Charles) Kennedy, reared a large family of seven children. Together they built significant farming and ranching operations in Burnet, Ellis, Navarro, and Williamson counties.
He was preceded in death by infant son David Lee Kennedy.
He is survived by wife Maureen; children Rick Kennedy of Inks Lake, Clayton Kennedy and wife Belinda of Seguin, Celia Fuller and husband Jerry of Jarrell, Bridget Jaunal and husband Garry of Chicago, Ill., Kevin Kennedy and wife Lisa of Bertram, Earl Kennedy and wife Kayti of Waxahachie, and Celeste Hutchison and husband Larry of Waxahachie; seven grandsons; seven granddaughters; two great-grandsons; two great-granddaughters; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Wade Funeral Home in Hubbard, Texas. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 18, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Hubbard with Rev. Michael Heidt officiating.
A graveside service and interment will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram at 2:30 p.m. After burial, the family will welcome friends at the home of Kevin and Lisa Kennedy.
Pallbearers will be Rick Kennedy, Clayton Kennedy, Kevin Kennedy, Earl Kennedy, Temple Kennedy, Aaron Fuller, Shay Kennedy, and Bryson Kennedy. Honorary Pallbearers are Jonas Hutchison and Odin Hutchison.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840-2811. Please designate the "Maureen and Temple R. Kennedy ’46 Endowed Scholarship” in the memo line of the check. Alternatively, memorials may be sent to Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH), PO Box 96440, Washington, DC. 20090-6440 or St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 307 NW 5th Street, Hubbard, Texas 76648.
Arrangements made by Wade Funeral Home in Hubbard.
P.O. Box 1000, Marble Falls, Texas 78654 - Phone: (830) 693-4367