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KENNEDY -- Robert Allen (Bob) Kennedy, longtime resident of Dallas, Texas, died peacefully on November 20, 2004 in Albuquerque, New Mexico after a short battle with leukemia. Bob was born May 15, 1925 in Santa Ana, California, the second son of William and Edith Kennedy. His family lived in Huntington Beach, and when Bob graduated from high school, he immediately joined the U.S. Navy. Bob was sent to the University of Texas and enrolled in the V12 program. He later went on to the Naval R.O.T.C. program and graduated as an Ensign in 1945. He served as Skipper of an LCI delivering troops and supplies between the U.S. and Hawaii. He also served in the Reserves for several years. On discharge, he returned to UT/Austin to pursue B.S. degrees in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. In 1949, he married his true love, Rose Mary Thielepape of Austin, Texas. After Bob graduated, the couple moved to Massachusetts where Bob worked for General Electric. After one winter "up north," the couple returned to Austin where Bob got his Masters in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He worked in California for a year but returned to Austin as soon as a job became available. Bob's job at Texas Power & Light Rockdale plant led to a promotion and the couple moved to Dallas, where he worked at Texas Utilities for 37 years. Bob was active in the Dallas YMCA and was on the committee that started the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. He loved to jog, swim, cycle, hike, and camp, a love of the outdoors which he passed on to his children. Bob was a devoted Catholic and an active member of St. Monica Church. When he retired from TU in 1992, the couple moved to Albuquerque where Bob continued his outdoor activities. He participated in the cycling events in the Senior Olympics for 9 years. He and Rose Mary were volunteers for Meals on Wheels, Barrett House, RSVP, Catholic Charities and MDAA. Robert Kennedy is survived by his wife, Rose Mary, to whom he was married for 55 years; and six of their nine children: Kathy Haigler and husband, Billy, and daughter, Sadie of Pippa Passes, Kentucky; Ellen Kennedy and husband, Brad Stutzman of Georgetown, Texas; Carol Anne Kennedy and son, Jarod of Austin, Texas; Suzanne Kennedy of Austin, Texas; Chris Kennedy and wife, Lorraine of Citra, Florida; and Colleen Kennedy of San Antonio, Texas. The couple's three children, Shawn, Jason, and Jeffrey, preceded Bob in death in 1984, 1987, and 1988, respectively; as did Bob's brother, William. A Rosary will be recited on Friday, November 26, 2004, 7 pm, at the Hillcrest-Crane Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas. A Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 27, 2004, 10 am, at St Monica Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Monica Church, Jesuit, Ursuline, Camp John Marc, Scottish Rite Hospital, or the charity of you choice, The Kennedy family would like to thank their extended family and friends for their love and support over all the years, and most recently a sincere thank you to the physicians and most compassionate staff on 5 East at University of New Mexico Health Science Center.
        Published on: Tue November 23, 2004