Cover photo for Virginia Kennedy's Obituary
Virginia Kennedy Profile Photo
1927 Virginia 2022

Virginia Kennedy

September 28, 1927 — May 12, 2022

Lees Summit

Virginia Fay Newman Kennedy passed gently on May 12, 2022 in Lees Summit, MO.

She was the 3rd of 6 children born to Grady Harold and Ethel Betrona Newman in Memphis, Tennessee on September 28, 1927. The family moved to St. Louis, MO and owned a string of Dixie Donut shops.  When Virginia was nine years old, her mother died giving birth to her sixth child. Her father abandoned the six children alone in an apartment in Chicago, telling his cousin to take them. She and her two older brothers took care of the 3 younger girls, including the baby. Her mothers sister, Olga Lovie Rupe, and her siblings each raised one or two children. She and her sister Frances were adopted by Aunt Lovie and moved to Douglas, Wyoming (where she could legally adopt as a single woman) and remained until graduation from high school. Virginia obtained her registered nursing degree from Research Hospital College of Nursing in Kansas City, MO.  She worked as a Registered Nurse for 48 years. She was employed at the Industrial Clinic in North Kansas City, MO for the majority of her nursing career.

She married Richard LaFountain in 1951 and her first child, Laurel, was born in 1952. She and Richard divorced in 1955. She lived in North Kansas City. She married Ivan McCrite in 1961, and became step mom to eleven year old, Candy, and teens, Mike and Pat McCrite. In 1963 her son, Bill, was born. A year later, her husband died. She remained in North Kansas City and married Robert Kennedy in 1973. They were happily married for 43 years until he died in 2017. She moved from Riverstone Retirement Community in Kansas City, North to Addington Place Assisted Living in Lees Summit, MO in 2021.

She was very much loved by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as friends, and her wonderful care staff at Addington Place.

Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children arise and call her blessed”.

She leaves behind her children: Lori (Norm) Ashcroft, Bill (Dawne) Kennedy, Candy (John) Howe, Steve (Linda) Kennedy, Sandy Hallet, Linda (Bruce) Roberson, and Mike Kennedy; Grandchildren: Jordan (Andrea) Dunseth, Olivia Dunseth, Garrett (Alex) Dunseth, Morgan Kennedy, Krystal Wilson, Justin (Kelly) Howe, Rip (Caroline) Howe, Sam Hallett, and McKenzie Hallet; and Great Grandchildren: Cameron Dunseth, Molly Howe, Jack Howe, Anna Howe, and Maddie Howe.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Kennedy, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Funeral Service

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)

Terrace Park - Lakeside Chapel

MO

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