Sheldon C. Kennedy

Sheldon C. Kennedy, 94, was lifted into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 3, 2020. He was born August 16, 1926 in Altoona, the youngest and last surviving of Harry and Lucinda (Hill) Kennedy’s thirteen children. He married Theresa C. Dougherty on Feb. 18, 1950. They celebrated 67 years of marriage before her passing in 2017. Their love was never-ending. Surviving are Sheldon and Theresa’s six children: Harry, Catherine and husband, David Metzger, Walter and wife, Michele, Naomi and husband, Frank Shields, Rachel and husband, Chester Caldwell, Eunice and husband, Thomas Dobrowolsky; 12 grandchildren: Leah, Jennifer, Rachel, Lydia, Jacob, Elizabeth, Joshua, Zachary, Eric, Matthew, Alicia, Adam; and 11 great-grandchildren: Logan, Emily, Alaina, Molly, Benjamin, Silas, Simon, Owen, Madison, Hannah, Jacob. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; siblings: Harry, Mary Ewing, Lawrence, Zee Brandt, Chester, Walter, Martha Lang, Louise Crawford, Miles, Paul, Edna May, Lavina; adopted brother, Fritz Ingold; special nephew, Rod Ewing, and Rod’s wife, Jean; and great-granddaughter, Dresden. He served in the United States Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II and worked and retired from the A&P Warehouse, where he forged lifelong friendships with coworkers, Jim Glass and Walter Hodack. He was a former member of Fairview Baptist Church where he assisted with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, street corner, prison and lay ministries with Rev. Don and Mary Burchfield. He served on the Altoona Bible Institute Board of Directors. He attended Calvary Baptist Church where he participated in Faithful Followers’ activities, helped set up Live Nativities and added a deep and broad “Amen!”, “Hallelujah!” and “Praise the Lord!” to church services. Sheldon loved the Lord, the Bible, his wife, his family and his neighbors, especially Peppino, Vic, Maxine, Nicole, Brenda, Jim, Linda, Shirley, Jean and the Oerthers. “Mr. Kennedy” had a servant’s heart who prayed for others, swept sidewalks, raked leaves and shoveled snow, usually while wearing his signature sweatband. He enjoyed working with bricks and stone, using duct tape, whistling like a bird, playing the harmonica, eating ice cream, and acting silly. He had a wonderful moustache. Conversations with Sheldon were punctuated with Bible verses, encouragement and humor, and his days were filled with praises and phrases like, “The Lord knows!” and “The best is yet to come.” His flannel shirt pockets always held a New Testament to read and Gospel tracts to share. One of his favorite verses was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Sheldon’s last mission field was Homewood at Martinsburg where he lived and was cared for this past year. Sheldon fought the good fight, finished the course and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Due to Covid restrictions, a private graveside service will be held next week for the family.