Elton L. Kennedy, 90, of Montoursville, passed away at his residence on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.
He was born Aug. 4, 1921, in Staples, Minn., the only child of Irene Kennedy and LeRoy Kennedy.
Elton graduated from Staples High School in 1938. In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Army Signal Corp. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 19, 1943. Elton was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on the battlefields in Northern Italy. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for bravery and the Purple Heart.
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Elton L. Kennedy
He joined O.S.S. the U.S. Intelligence Organization prior to the C.I.A. Elton operated behind enemy lines leading Italian partisans in defense of their own country during World War II. He was a very proud veteran and patriot.
Elton was married on June 2, 1945, to the love of his life, Jean Emery, with whom he enjoyed 58 years of marriage until she preceded him in death in 2005. They had two children, a son, Ronald R. Kennedy of Montoursville, with whom he lived and a daughter, Patricia I. Kennedy of Longmont, Colo.
He graduated from the University of Scranton at age 64 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Elton retired from Pennsylvania Power & Light Company after 46 years of employment at age 70. He managed baseball teams in Montoursville at Little League, Intermediate and American Legion League Levels. He was one of three original founders of the Nicely Field Baseball Field, originally developed for American Legion Baseball.
He served on Montoursville Borough Council and was a life member of Pulaski Lodge No. 0216 Free and Accepted Masons in Pottsville, Pa.
He loved fishing and building fishing rods, which he did for each one of his grandchildren. He loved the N.Y. Yankees and watched every game that he could. He cherished the time that he got to spend with his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His grandchildren include: Brian (Desiree) Kennedy of Phoenixville, Pa., Kimberly (fiance, Ken Tallman) Hanna of Montoursville, Tracey Casselbery of Vermont, Katie (Chris) Shook of Illinois, Amy Casselbery of Colorado and his great-grandchildren, Hunter Hanna, Connor Tallman, Grant, Jack and Charlie Kennedy and Landon and Malia Shook.
He loved all of his many dogs through the years and always felt strongly about prevention of animal cruelty. He will be sadly missed by his two dogs, Cocoa and Bella.
The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, July 9, 2012, at Spitler Funeral Home, 733 Broad St., Montoursville. Interment will follow in Montoursville Cemetery, with Military Rites accorded by the Korean War Veterans of Lycoming County. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday morning from 10 to 11 a.m.
The family kindly requests that in lieu of floral tributes that donations are made to the SPCA in his memory, 2805 Reach Road, Williamsport, PA 17701.
