Joan Kennedy

Joan Doan Kennedy went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday September 21, 2021. She died from advanced dementia occupied by comfort care after a diagnosis of COVID. 

Born March 9, 1936 in Port Huron, Michigan. The eldest daughter to John and Minnie Doan.  She enjoyed her time with family and friends in Michigan until her father’s work called the family to move across the United States to Ogden, Utah.  One night at a local dance hall Joan met her one true love, Bill Kennedy. Bill was an airman stationed at Hill Air Force Base.  It was love at first sight and in a few short months the two were married December 23, 1955.  When the two went to file for their marriage license, Joan found out she was older than Bill. A girl 18 can be married without parental consent a boy must be 21.  Joan gave serious thought as to call off the wedding, but her love was stronger than her concern for the 9 days each year she would be older than Bill.  Of course, Bill would remind her she had married a younger man those 9 days for the next 66 years.  As the newlyweds began their new life together.  Joan would go to work While Bill was fulfilling his duties as an airman.  Then Joan found out she was expecting their first child. It was a girl, Barbara Ann Kennedy. Unfortunately, Barbara was born at 6 months and only lived a few hours.  A few years later in 1958 Joan was once again expecting another child.  When it was time for Billy Jr to be born, Bill’s crew was scheduled for an overseas trip and since Joan was high risk, Bill was furloughed. That flight collided with another plane mid-air over Texas and all on board were killed.  It was then Joan knew she was not cut out to be the wife of an airman and Bill didn’t re-enlist.  Bill, Joan and newborn baby Billy Jr decided it was time for them to move back to Bill’s home town Rosedale, WV. 

Unable to find a job that could support their family, they moved their little family to Ohio.  Bill found work at Ford while Joan began working at Ridge Tool and Majestic Molding.  Soon Bill decided it was time for them to open up a motorcycle dealership in Elyria, Ohio. It wasn’t long before they needed to work the dealership full time so Joan had to quit her office job.  Her boss came into the dealership to get Joan back.  He asked Bill what would it take for you to let Joan come back to work?  Bill said you don’t have enough money.  He said Joan did the work of 3 office girls.  Hard work was something Joan did her entire life.  Soon Joan was expecting another child.   One morning while 9 months pregnant, Bill called Joan and said have the neighbor ride the Triumph in today, I have it sold.  The neighbor wasn’t available so Joan rode the motorcycle in that day.  Later that night she went into labor and had a girl, Linda.  Joan and Bill continued to work at the dealership.  Once again Joan was expecting another child.  After working hard all day they decided to go out for dinner and Joan went into labor. She was blessed with another son, Mark.  The dealership began to grow and Joan and Bill won many trips that allowed them to travel all over the world.  The couple took up flying and both Joan and Bill obtained their private pilot’s license.   

Wanting to escape the Ohio cold winters the couple decided to move to DeLand, Florida.  Locating just the right plot of land they build their new home together.  The lot next door had a contractor building a new home when they purchased the land.  Bill and Joan finished building their new home by hand before the contractor had finished the house next door.  Running a dealership was what they knew so the couple opened up a used car dealership in DeLand, Florida.  Joan would go to the auctions, detail the cars, sell the cars and complete all the paperwork.  

Once again Bill decided it was time for them to change their occupation. This time they moved back to West Virginia where they could secure a new business venture in the gas and oil business.  Not only did she do all the necessary paperwork, she worked right along-side Bill in the oil field.  The couple would spend the next 20 plus year’s working their summers in the oil fields of West Virginia and winters in Florida.   

In 2008 Joan and Bill got out of the gas and oil business and purchased a motor coach.  The next few years they would travel the USA in the summer months and live in DeLand during the winter.  She was a long-standing member of Liberty Baptist Church in Deland, Florida. 

Joan loved her family.  She had two sister’s Louise Doan Hollingsworth and Ruth Doan Moss.  She had four children Barbara  Kennedy,  Billy Kennedy, Linda Kennedy Varady married to Ken Varady, Mark Kennedy married to Heather Kennedy. She was blessed with 12 grandchildren Adam Kennedy (Marjie), Alan Kennedy, Amanda Kennedy Bruner (Thomas), Jenna Varady Gerber (Scott), Kendra Varady Cook (Jordan), Kenny Varady (Isabella) Nichole Varady Tollett (Seth), Ashley Kennedy Pokorney (Ben), Katlyn Kennedy, Brandon Kennedy, Madison Kennedys and David Oldfield. She was GG Great Grandma to 10 Kingston Kennedy, Blaise Kennedy, Kaden Kennedy Nevaeh Kennedy, Kinsley Bruner, Praisely Bruner,  Kendall Gerber, Madelyn Gerber, Kylie Cook, Kali Tollett, Houston Tollet, Evelyn Pokorney, Nora Pokorney,  Leo Kennedy Lego, Juliette Kennedy Lego. 

She was preceded in death by her parent’s John and Minnie Doan, her sister Louise Doan Hollingsworth Her daughter, Barbara Kennedy. Her grandson Alan Kennedy. 

Family and friends will be received at the Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., Glenville, WV from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 26 where funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Nathaniel Moss officiating a traditional service will be observed with burial following in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Normantown.

Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., & Cremation Services is humbled to assist the family of Joan Kennedy with their final tribute.