Visitation:
Willard OH 44890 12/11/2014 14:00:00
Service:
Willard OH 44890 12/12/2014 11:00:00
Ralph W. Kennard, 79, passed away December 8, 2014 at Hospice House in Ashland, Ohio. He was born on August 5, 1935 in New Haven, Ohio to the late Thomas Louie and Lola Fay (Montgomery) Kennard and has lived in the Willard area all of his life.
He married JoAnne Marie Gardiner of Mansfield, Ohio on April 28, 1955 in Willard, Ohio at the Assembly of God Church on S. Main St. by Rev. James Davis.
Ralph served in the U.S. Army from February 15, 1954 until January 24, 1957. He served in Ft. Knox, KY and Ft. Bragg, NC before going to Kaiserslaturan, Zweibruken, Germany in 1955.
He was employed at Pioneer Rubber Co. in Willard from 1957 to 1967 and he sold vacuum cleaners from October 1967 to June 1969 in and around the Cleveland Area. In June 1969, he and his wife JoAnne purchased the East End Gulf Service Station on Rt. 224 in Willard. In 1980, Ralph and JoAnne changed the name to Major Transmission and Muffler Center which recently sold this year.
Ralph was a very loving husband, father and loved his family. Ralph, a coon hunter, founded the Huron Valley Coon Hunters Ass’n in Willard in 1974, in which he has held an office since. He is a member of the United English Ass’n, PKC member and a UKC licensed Master of Hounds & Bench Show Judge. He is a member of The Willard Church of God.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Todd Alan (Melinda) Kennard; a daughter, Beth; 5 sisters, Lavon (Marcus) Allen, Jeannette (Gerald) Hintz all of Willard; Phyllis (John) Harpham, Treva Diane (Donald) Dyer, all of Shelby; Linda (Bob) Barnett of Sommerville, SC; 3 brothers, James (Susan) Kennard of Shelby, Thomas Kennard, Jr. and Eldon (Jane) Kennard all of Willard; 4 grandchildren, Trinity Renea Kennard, Krista Marie Kennard, Karie Kennard and Todd Kennard II; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Marlene Stidam; brother-in-laws, David Birckbichler and Hobert Stidam; 2 sister-in-laws Judy Kennard and Janet Kennard.
Calling hours will be at the Willard Church of God in Willard on Thursday December 11, 2014 from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM where a funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Friday. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in New Haven with a Military Service. Secor Funeral Home in Willard, Ohio assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.secorfuneralhomes.com
Condolences
I am so sorry for your loss! Ralph taught me a lot and i will never forget the love he had for everyone he came in contact with, my love and prayers to you all, may Gods love give you the strength to get through this time….RIP Pops love you and will never forget you!
God Bless
Joann and family
We are sad to learn of Ralph’s passing and our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
Ralph will be missed very much. He was a great man.
May God give you the comfort and peace you need at this time.
Dear Family,
We are so sorry we could not be there for Brother Ralph’s funeral. He was not only a cousin, he was a beloved friend and Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ, faithful all my life to be a friend in all situations. Beverly and I will miss him greatly.Love and prayers to all.
Greg and Bev
To Ralph’s family sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you…
JoAnne, I am so sorry to hear about Ralph !! My thoughts and prayers are with you all !!!!! Love You, Judy
JoAnne & Family:
We saw Ralph only at annual family reunions even though we were members of the same family. Still, we looked forward to seeing Ralph’s smile and hearing his stories. It was always a warm pleasure to sit beside him, listen, share, smile, and laugh. We’ll miss him as well as look forward to JoAnne’s continuing emails and next reunion’s visit.
Keith & Betty Frank
Clare, Michigan
JoAnne and family, We are so sorry to learn about Ralph’s passing. You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers.
JoAnne and family,
I am so very sorry to hear of Ralph’s passing.
I am praying for comfort for all of you.
Love, Jeanie
Melinda and Family…our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you during this time of your loss. Lean on the Lord for His strength. In His Love,
JoAnne, so sorry to hear about Ralph’s passing. May the Good Lord give you and your family the strength to get through this most difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Tom Kennard and Melinda and family.
So sorry to hear about your loss. Lean on the Lord at this time to give you strength. Prayers to your families.
In Christ Love,
Larry and Phyllis Hamons