In 1982 Fred and Luella (Lou) Kennedy joined FMCA and, shortly thereafter, several South Central Area chapters. Fred and Lou jumped into volunteering with FMCA in a big way. Fred held numerous chapter offices; served two terms as national vice president, South Central Area; and served on seven FMCA national committees over the years.
Fred also took on countless roles at FMCA international conventions and area rallies, including information captain, registration caption, seminar volunteer, and even a parade volunteer at FMCA’s 1998 Las Cruces, New Mexico, convention, to name a few.
Fred Louis Kennedy, F44281, died January 4, 2022, at the age of 90.
His son, Terry L. Kennedy, stated, “My mom always said if you ever asked him to remove his hat, he would have FMCA tattooed to his forehead,” because he loved the association so much. He added that his dad tried to enlist as many people as he could, including Terry himself (FMCA membership number F44281S), his granddaughter, and one of his grandsons.
Aside from FMCA, Fred was active in numerous business, church, military (25 years in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve), and fraternal organizations, including the Masonic Lodge.
Fred and Lou met as kids growing up in the same small southeast Kansas town and started dating when Lou was 14 and Fred was 16. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on May 27, 2021.
Fred attended Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, majoring in business administration, which eventually led to a 40-plus-year career in the dairy and cleaning chemicals industries.
Fred and Lou bought a small travel trailer when their four children were young and launched into RVing. Later in life, they progressed to motorhomes, which included a Tiffin Allegro, followed by a Sandpiper, a Coachmen, and three Monacos. The couple traveled throughout the United States and was particularly fond of the Oregon coast, while accumulating miles on every motorhome they owned. No doubt many of those miles involved driving to FMCA events over the years. They attended more than 50 FMCA international conventions and all but one Six State Rally, which they only skipped because Fred required surgery.
Ross Boyer, who served on the FMCA Executive Board with Fred, stated, “He and Lou were very gracious people. We enjoyed their company.” Ross also said that he recalled Fred talking about his many experiences during his life, especially those as pilot/copilot of President Lyndon Johnson’s private plane.
Fred was preceded in death by his daughter, Deborah. He leaves his wife, Lou; sons Terry, Edward, and Steven; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.