KENNEDY, ROBERT C.

Robert Cushing Kennedy, a wounded World War II veteran, passed away peacefully in his Murray home early in the morning of Oct. 24 [2008]. He was 88.

Kennedy was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps’ elite Edson Raiders Battalion in the South Pacific. Robert was born Sept. 22, 1920, in Oakland, Calif., to Rolland C. and Florence Wiltermood Kennedy, graduated from Oakland High School in 1938, and graduated from Stanford University in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942.

He returned to Stanford, was elected president of the Associated Students and was awarded an MBA degree from Stanford in 1946. Kennedy was married to Renee Lindquist in 1945. They divorced after 24 years. He then married Margo Orndorff Woodcook. They were divorced after 16 years. In 1985 he married Joanne Walt Mathews in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Kennedy worked for Merril Lynch until 1951. He opened his own floor covering business in Westwood California in 1952. Eventually he moved to Reno, Nev., founding the highly successful Floor Coverings by Bob Kennedy, Inc. In Reno he was active in the Chamber of Commerce and other community affairs, including a long term membership in Rotary International.

Kennedy is survived by his sister Dede Bartlett, his eight sons Robert Kennedy III, Thomas Kennedy, John Kennedy, Bart Woodcook, Josh Woodcook, Thomas Mathews, Bruce Mathews and David Mathews. He is also survived by his two daughters Sarah Kennedy-Smith and Hilary Mathews, 30 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Kennedy was preceded in death by a daughter, Laura Renee. Kennedy was a convert in 1963 to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With his wife Joanne, he served two missions in South America. He was also active in the Stanford University Alumni.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Jenkins-Soffe of Murray and memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wed., Oct. 29, in the Little Cottonwood 1st Ward Chapel at 6350 S. Rodeo Lane in Murray. Friends may visit with family members at 9:30 a.m. until the services begin. There will be no interment since at Kennedy’s request his remains were to be cremated. The family expresses their heartfelt thanks to Bob’s caregivers, particularly Kevin Smith, who gave such tender, loving care in the last two years of his life, as well as Hospice workers and members of the Little Cottonwood 1st Ward.