Mr. Kenneth Karl Kennedy

Mr. Kenneth Karl Kennedy, formally of Bristol, passed from this life on November 11, 2012 succumbing to a brief battle with cancer. Mr. Kennedy was born in Bristol, Va. on December 20, 1928 to James Harmon (Jim) and Ruth (Childress) Kennedy, his honored parents, both of whom predeceased Ken.

Early in life, Mr. Kennedy confessed Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah and the only begotten Son of God as his Lord and Savior. This faith sustained Mr. Kennedy all his years, and now.

Mr. Kennedy was predeceased by his loving, supportive and devoted wife, Mary Lou, Ken's pride and joy, a Masters Degreed Christian Counselor with whom he shared 40 years of blessed happy Christian marriage. Mr. Kennedy leaves his loving and devoted daughter, Melissa Louellen, whom he had the honor of naming (giving her the same initials as her mother), and her husband, Ken's son-in-law and valued friend, Alvin Woodruff, (a manager with TVA). He also leaves four devoted grandchildren, Hannah Kennedy, Jeremy Woodruff, Isaiah Woodruff and Mia Woodruff who adored their grandfather. Mr. Kennedy leaves two sons from a previous marriage William Andrew Andy) Kennedy and Randy Michael Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy leaves his grandchildren Kaylan Kennedy and Drew Kennedy, daughter and son of Andy Kennedy, and Matthew Kennedy, son of Randy Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy also leaves his older brother, Dr. Joseph T. Kennedy (a retired Baptist Minister and Christian writer) and wife Pearl of Gadsden, Alabama and their children Tom, James, John and Joe's daughter Teresa; and Ken's cherished younger sister Peggy Inez Winchester, her husband and friend, Capt. Morton Summers (Windy) Winchester, U.S. Navy (Retired) and their daughters Margaret (Meg) and Rebecca (Becky) whom Ken had the blessing of baptizing, and Becky's husband, Tod Habib, all of Galveston, TX.

Mr. Kennedy grew up in Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, where he attended public schools on both sides of town through his junior year at Tennessee High School. He then studied and graduated at Harrison Chilhowee Baptist Academy in Seymour, Tennessee.

Mr. Kennedy served four years in the United States Air Force, with one year of his enlistment spent in the Korean War Zone serving as a Sergeant in the Air Force Security Service, maintaining radio and cryptographic equipment.

Following his military discharge, Mr. Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee, College of Law, class of 1958, while working to support a family.

Mr. Kennedy spent 25 years in the Chief Counsel's Office of the IRS, in Washington, D.C. drafting proposed legislation, regulations and tax rulings, serving on and leading numerous tax committees, representing the IRS at the Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee and Joint Tax Committee on Capitol Hill and before various Federal and State governmental entities in his areas of expertise. He also supervised other attorneys and taught tax and legal writing classes. Ken received many awards and commendations for his work. He was honored by Congressman Jimmy Quillen at his retirement; and was presented the Gallatin Award, which is given only to those who have outstanding careers under Treasury Department auspices.

For over 25 years, Mr. Kennedy taught Adult Sunday School classes in the Christian Churches to which he and his wife belonged over the years. After 1976, he eschewed the use of Quarterlies, preparing his lessons from his own Bible studies. Ken also served as an Elder in Central Christian Church in Springfield, Va.

Until he was well into his 50's, Mr. Kennedy played on the IRS Intergovernmental softball and touch football teams, and he played in the golf and tennis leagues. He was elected by his peers and superiors as both Vice-Chairman (1970) and Chairman (1971) of the IRS golf league, the longest continually operating golf league in the USA; and he coached the IRS Women's softball team to the Intergovernmental League championship in 1966.

The family will receive friends Friday, November 16, 2012 from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with a memorial service following at 7:00 P.M. at Highland Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside services for the family will be conducted on Saturday, November 17, 2012. You may sign the online guestbook at www.highlandmemorialparks.com HIGHLAND MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 (865) 588-0567.