David William Kennedy

David William Kennedy, 83, joined his heavenly Father Sept. 24, 2012, in Conway, Arkansas. David was born May 18, 1929, in Matheson, Colorado to Virgil O. and Ethel R. Kennedy. He graduated from Winfield High School (Kansas) in 1947. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 serving five years. During that time he served 18 months at the U.S. Naval Air Station on Guam during the Korean War. On April 28, 1950, David married the love of his life, Regina Diane Heath. He became a registered architect in 1971, one of only three men to have ever done so without a college degree scoring the top score on five of seven tests. He became a partner with the successful architectural firm, Roark, Perkins and Kennedy in Little Rock. He served on the American Arbitration Association and was president of the Construction Specifications Institute. He participated in programs with the Built-Up Roofing Systems Institute. He received the Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers recognition as Emeritus Architect in 2011. He participated actively in Boy Scouts of America, from 1962 to 1968, helping boys improve their lives through scouting principles and activities. David was a member of Markham United Methodist Church, serving on numerous committees and programs. He was a chairman of the Building Committee and supervised the building of the original building of Markham Methodist Church in the 1960s. He was a member of Priscilla and Aquila Sunday school class. He held Sunday school teachers in high esteem after teaching a class one Sunday, noting that teaching the lesson was one of the hardest things he had ever done. After retirement, David moved to Conway and lived on Lake Beaverfork where he enjoyed construction additions to his home and built an enormous china cabinet, which his wife dearly loved. He was a do-it-yourself person and was always busy working on some kind of projects. He enjoyed fishing when he could and was an avid reader of newspapers. David was a fantastic husband for 62 years, helped raise his four sons, was dearly loved by many relatives, friends and neighbors and was the type of person who made the world a better place. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Shirley Jean Bradford, and his grandson Nicholas David Kennedy. David will be lovingly remembered by his wife Diane, his four sons; Robert Loren Kennedy, Kyle Gregory Kennedy (Linda), Joel Edward Kennedy, and Jon David Kennedy (Kathryn), siblings; Laura Bost (Al), Bob Kennedy (Rocky), Linda Sue Crabb (Rick), Kenneth Bradford, grandchildren; Katrisha Dawn Kennedy, Krystal LaShay Kennedy, Kara Alexie Kennedy, Kyla Danielle Kennedy, Mary Kathryn Kennedy, and Jack William Kennedy, and two great-granddaughters, Isabelle and Julianna Osorio. A memorial service to say goodbye to David will be held Friday, September 28, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.