Kenneth Aduddell

Kenneth Charles Aduddell died June 10th, 2020. Aduddell was born May 31, 1950 to Stephen Edward Aduddell and Jean (Hopkins) Aduddell. Kenneth grew up in the family home at 415 W. 9th with his beloved parents, older brother Stephen Clement, and his grandmother, Mrs. Jessie Hopkins. As a child he was surrounded by family, friends, and employees who gave love and care with every act.

His father was a school teacher, grain merchant, and real estate salesman. His company H.A.M. Grain built the grain elevator downtown and several elevators in the southern states. Steve was active in several state and local organizations.

The Aduddell family made several interesting trips, including the new Disneyland; Havana Cuba during Castro’s takeover; Los Angeles during the Watts race riots in 1965; and Chicago just after the 1968 Democratic Convention. They made many New York theatre trips.

Kenny worked eight summers at the Carnegie Public Library from 1962-1969. He attended Garfield School, Roosevelt and Field Kindley and graduated in 1968. He then spent one year at Boston University.

He entered the US Navy on November 3, 1969 and served for four years. His duty took him to San Diego, the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for two years, and one year with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa and the South China Seas.

He was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a musician, play director, usher and a deacon.

In 1986 he decided to direct one play, the great Our Town by Thornton Wilder. That lead to forty-five plays for Community Theater in the next thirty years. Kenny also played the piano for many musicals in Coffeyville and Independence. His favorites included Life With Father, Picnic, The American Clock, The Grapes of Wrath, Look Homeward Angel, and the musical Follies directed by Mark Frank. He loved theatre and movies, and had a huge collection of books, films, records, and sheet music.

In 2015 he moved back to the 400 block of West Ninth Street with his two cats. Most recently he enjoyed writing the Our Town articles for the Coffeyville Journal. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steve.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 11:00 am at the Veteran's Memorial Patio at Fairview Cemetery. Social distancing and masks are recommended.  In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be payable to the First United Presbyterian Church and may be sent in care of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, KS 67337. To share a memory or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com