James Capehart Kennedy, age 88, of Lewisburg died February 28, 2009 at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James G Kennedy, and his son, James C. Kennedy, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Catherine Davis Kennedy, sons David Barbara Kennedy and Richard Alice Kennedy of Lewisburg and daughter, Marilyn Kennedy McGuire Michael of Louisville, KY. Also surviving are his sister, Mary Ellen Kennedy of Jeffersonville, IN and grandchildren Christopher Kamerer of Floyds Knobs, IN and Meredith Kennedy , Connor Kennedy , Patrick Kennedy and Sean Kennedy of Lewisburg.
Mr. Kennedy was a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and the University of Indiana with a BS in finance. Like most men his age, he was a veteran of World War II. He served in the US Army Air Corps as a crew member aboard a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. His crew flew 50 combat missions over European industrial targets. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air War over Europe Medal with two Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for his service.
In 1962, Mr. Kennedy moved to Lewisburg to accept the position of Director of Quality Control at Heil Quaker. He went on to become plant manager but, in 1977, took early retirement to start his own business, Southern Carton Company, a corrugated packaging manufacturer that continues to thrive today
Mr. Kennedy was past president of the Lewisburg Rotary Club and Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. He was an active member of the Elks Lodge, Indiana University Alumni Association, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Association of Independent Corrugated Converters and Riverbend Country Club. He also served two terms as chairman of the Marshall County United Givers Fund.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 3rd from 3 pm to 8 pm at Bills-McGaugh Funeral Home in Lewisburg. Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 4 at St. John's Catholic Church. Pallbearers are John Hursh, John Rawe, Ed Wiles, Bill Marsh, Christopher Kamerer, and Connor Kennedy. Memorial donations can be made to the Marshall Education Foundation, PO Box 2823, Lewisburg, TN 37091.