William A. “Dub” Kennedy, Jr., 78, concluded his journey after passing away on September 15, 2017, at his home on Rolling K Ranch in Brownwood, Texas. While we will miss him greatly, we rejoice in the assurance that he is now with Jesus in his heavenly home.
Dub came in to this world on October 21, 1938, in Levelland, Texas, to William Audry and Mildred Land Kennedy.
Dub moved to Odessa, Texas with his family in 1943. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1957 and then attended Texas Western College (UTEP) in El Paso on a track scholarship. Dub married his high school sweetheart, Evelena Carroll, on August 22, 1959. They were married 32 years. Upon completing their degrees, they moved to Lubbock, Texas, where he taught, coached, farmed, and raised livestock.
After eight years of teaching, Dub moved his family back to Odessa where he began his career in the oil and gas industry. He started United Industries in 1971 and continued to build a dynamic corporation when he purchased Wells Compression in 1984. He was the Texas Commerce Bank Silver Bar award recipient in 1983 and served on the Board of the Natural Gas Processors Association. Dub loved serving his hometown of Odessa as a city councilman for four years. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Jockey Club at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.
After the death of his wife, Evelena, Dub retired from Odessa and lived in Brownwood, Texas and Ruidoso, New Mexico. In 1993 he married Mary Kennedy and they enjoyed almost 24 years of marriage.
Dub loved to compete. He felt competition brought out the best in everyone. It certainly did for him. Five times he won his flight in the Snowcapper Golf Tournament in Alto, New Mexico. Playing that Alto Lakes golf course with his friends each summer was one of his great pleasures.
Through all of his endeavors, Dub lived his faith. He served as deacon at First Assembly of God Church of Odessa for many years. As a member of the deacon board he played a key role in the planning and building of the church’s new sanctuary, which was dedicated in 1990.
He also served on the Young Life Board of Odessa and supported many ministries, including Teen Challenge and Door of Hope Mission. Through his humor and out-going personality, Dub found ways to share his faith at his business, while hunting, golfing or attending a horse race. In the last months of his life, you often heard him sharing his faith with his caretakers, friends and family.
Dub was preceded in death by his parents, W. A. Kennedy, Sr. and Mildred Land Kennedy; his late wife, Evelena Carroll Kennedy; and his brother-in-law, Roy McCandless.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Kennedy of Brownwood; son, Glenn Kennedy and wife, Ann; daughter, Sharman Adkins and husband, Mike, all of Odessa; daughter, Tiffany Morales and husband, Michael of Brownwood, Texas; and daughter, Jill Trenchard of Dallas; grandchildren, Travis Kennedy and wife, Laura of Ft. Worth; Elizabeth Kennedy of Amarillo; Kyle Kennedy, Audrey Adkins and Amanda Adkins all of College Station; and Morgan Morales and Maggie Morales of Brownwood, Texas; brother, Jack Kennedy; sisters, Margaret McCandless; Gloria Thompson and husband, Paul, all of Odessa; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to High Mesa Cowboy Church in Brownwood, First Assembly of God Church in Odessa, or to the charity of your choice.
A visitation will be held at Heartland Funeral Home, 303 Early Blvd, Brownwood, Texas, 76802, Wednesday, September 20, 2017, from 6 to 8 pm. Interment Rocky Creek Cemetery. Memorial Service to be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, September 21, 2017, at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, 4300 Hwy 279, Brownwood, Texas. Services entrusted to Heartland Funeral Home.
Condolences, memories and tributes can be shared with the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net
