Obituary of Herman Kennedy

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Herman Kennedy was born in Camp County, Texas on August 30, 1919 to James D. and Odessa Kennedy and died peacefully on March 7th, 2019 at age 99 years, 7 months.  He is survived by 3 children, Nathan Kennedy of Cooper, Kenneth and wife Betty Kennedy of Daingerfield,  Kathy and husband Henry Erwin, of Cooper, son-in-law Jerry Bailey of Paris; Brother James D Kennedy and wife Joyce of Terrell;  10 grandchildren 10 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by wife Katherine; daughter Shirley Bailey; daughter Virginia Whitney and her husband Hugh Whitney.

He was the 2nd oldest of 10 children with 2 younger brothers and 7 sisters.   His father was a farmer so Herman started work very early in life.  He attended school in Mt. Joy and played basketball.  Herman married the love of his life, Katherine Evelyn Boles on Sept. 28, 1940 and shared 66 years together.  As a young man, Herman attended welding school in Houston and spent several years during WWII working on Liberty Ships in the Houston ship yards.  After a brief stint in the Navy, Herman was discharged and moved to Delta County.  In 1953, he founded Kennedy Welding Company and built his shop where it is still located today.   He worked many years as a self-employed welder.  His fame as a welder and metal worker spread throughout the area, once even displaying a stock trailer he built which withstood being wrecked without breaking a single weld.   Along with his son Nathan, he is primarily responsible for building the gazebo in the middle of the town square. The arch entrances into the Birthright cemetery, which are still in use today, are one of the few items he actually put his name on.  He and Katherine reared 5 children.  Herman's hobbies were hunting, fishing, & playing dominoes.  He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Cooper and served as Sunday School Teacher, RA leader and anything else the church needed at the time.    

Visitation will be Sunday March10th 1:30 – 2:20 First Baptist Church Cooper.  Funeral will be at 2:30 PM with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Cooper; 500 E Dallas Ave or Delta County Public Library 300 W Dallas, Cooper 75432.

Grandsons will serve as pallbears, Mike Kinzie, Jason Kennedy, Justin Whitney, Nathan Bailey, Pat Erwin and James Kennedy. 

The family cannot express enough gratitude for the love and care given by Birchwood Nursing and Rehab of Cooper.  He loved and was loved in return.

You may pay your respects online at www.deltafuneralhome.com

Services entrusted to Delta Funeral Home.