TOPPING—James “Jim” Marcus Kennon, 75, of Topping passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2017.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcus and Dorothy Hall Kennon; his brothers, John and Harry Kennon; and his nephew, Michael A. Kennon.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of almost 40 years, Betty K. Cross Kennon; his sisters, Betty K. Fiorillo and Dorothy K. Layne; his nephews, Tony Fiorillo and Tom Layne; his nieces, Cindy Ellis, Robin Layne, Theresa Klabunde and Tammy Cochran; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Jim was a member of the last graduating class of Henry Clay High School in 1959. He joined the U.S. Navy after high school serving as a corpsman at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
After the service, he went to work for Abbott and Proctor, followed by being employed by The Home Shops. When they closed, he was the manager of the Ashland Store. He then opened Jim’s Paint and Wallpaper in the Henry Clay Shopping Center. After valve replacement surgery, Jim went to work for the Town of Ashland Police Department as a communications officer from which he retired.
Moving from Hanover County to Middlesex in 1999 was his dream. To have the boat on a lift in the back yard, to be able to fish off the pier or from the boat, to work crab pots and eat oysters was his life.
Jim had a great sense of humor, he never knew or met a stranger and he loved to tease people. He loved to travel roads he did not know and had the best sense of direction. He would go one way to a destination, but never returned home that same way. Jim was a diehard Redskins fan, a Washington Nationals fan and loved to watch golf, college football and basketball games and NASCAR on TV. He loved to play hearts, spades and solitaries on his computer.
Jim was a member and deacon at Harmony Grove Baptist Church where he served on the homebound team, on the personnel team, the audio team as well as treasurer of the Josh Sadler Sunday school class.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Shivers and the staff at Heron Cove 1 as well as Hospice for their acts of kindness during his illnesses.
There will be a Memorial Service at 2 p.m. Thursday, October 12, at Harmony Grove Baptist Church, 7722 General Puller Highway, Topping. A reception prepared by the funeral hospitality team of Harmony Grove will follow the service. Donations can be made to the Memorial Fund of Harmony Grove Baptist Church, P. O. Box 138, Topping VA 23169.
Arrangements by Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda.
