Colonel (Retired Army) George William Kenna

Colonel (Ret.) George W. Kenna, passed peacefully into the Lord's arms on 9 November 2012. Col. Kenna was born on Nov. 2, 1918 in Astoria, New York City, Queens, Long Island, New York to Arthur Patrick Kenna and Margaret A. Moran. He was the paternal grandson of Paul Kenna from Ireland and Teresa Kenna from Baltimore and the maternal grandson of Michael and Alice Moran, both from Ireland. Col. Kenna was the youngest of 5 children.

Col. Kenna was a retired U. S. Army Colonel. He served in the Army from 1939 to 1966; a veteran of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. His career ended with a sterling record having earned the prestigious Legion of Merit Medal, Silver Star Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal. Col. Kenna taught statistics at Western New England College where he received his M.B.A.

Since 1950 Col. Kenna has had a summer home on Cape Cod, in Cotuit, Massachusetts. In 1981, Col. and Mrs. Kenna moved for the winter to Nokomis, Florida. While in Florida he attended the Presbyterian Church for 27 years. Col. Kenna still continued to spend his summers at his house on Cape Cod where he enjoyed visits with family members and friends for several years. In March 2009 Col. Kenna moved in with his son, Christopher, and daughter-in-law, Cindy Sparks Lucy Kenna to Fort Smith, Arkansas. In September 2012, Col. Kenna, moved into Methodist Health and Rehab where he was cared for until his passing.

He is survived by two sons and their families: Christopher and Cynthia Kenna and their son Brian Kenna of Fort Smith, AR, formerly of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Donald and Polly Wright of New London, New Hampshire and their three sons and families: Walter Wright and Teresa Kramer Wright of Peoria, Arizona and their children: Austin, Holly, Jillian and Allison; Andrew and Doretta Wright of Tenafly, New Jersey and their children: Bobby and Patrick; Timothy and Dianna Wright of Truckee, California and their children Jack and Teige. He is also survived by his nephew, Michael McNerney of Honolulu, Hawaii and several other nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held at Fentress Mortuary. Also, a memorial service will he held in Cotuit, Massachusetts during the summer for family members and close friends at the Cotuit Federated Church. Honorary pall bearers are Christopher Kenna, Donald Wright, Brian Kenna, Walter Wright, Andrew Wright, Timothy Wright, Ken Burrill, Scott Scudder, and Bob Lucy. A memorial stone is in place at the Cotuit Mosswood Cemetery in his honor, where his cremation remains will be buried. Memorial gifts may be made to the Golden Rule Clothes Closet at 212 N. 3rd, Fort Smith, AR 72901.