Corsicana - Robert P. Kennedy, Jr., 96, of Kerens, Texas went peacefully home with Jesus on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at his home while with his wife, Annette Kennedy. He finally received what he referred to as his "promotion". Robert, known by his friends as "Doc" and "Bob" ", and by his family as "Papa" and "Grandpa" was born on October 19, 1928 in Beaumont, Texas to Robert P. Kennedy and Lela Mae Johnson Kennedy.

Bob was a veteran of the United States Army. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Army where he was classified as a M-1 30 caliber expert. He was a current member of The National Society of The Sons of The American Revolution.

At 17, Bob enrolled in Lamar University as his father wanted him to be an engineer. After completing one semester, he determined that the route of becoming an engineer was not the route he wanted to go down. Bob's father, Robert P. Kennedy, Sr., was working at Magnolia refinery in Beaumont at that time, where he worked for over 55 years. He introduced Bob to a friend of his who was in charge of a tanker company, Esso, that shipped product for Magnolia. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 18, in order to ship out with Esso, Bob joined the Merchant Marines as an OS(ordinary Seaman) and began many

journeys across the oceans and seas of the world to many countries. Bob shared some of his very interesting and exciting Merchant Marine stories with his friends and family. Some are not unlike what you may find in a thriller novel.

After a few journeys across the globe, Bob joined the United States Army at age 19 with his good friend Pete Brandhorst. They went to basic training together at Fort Chaffe, Arkansas. Bob was sent to a base in Wyoming and his buddy was sent to New York. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1955 after his Army and Army Reserves Service.

Bob enrolled in North Texas State University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He worked his way up in the insurance industry as a regional sales manager for Commercial Standard Insurance. After a few short years, he was offered a generous promotion that would involve a move to New York City. He chose to remain in Texas and he took the advice of a respected dentist friend to go to dental school and become a dentist. He did so and graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry and began a successful career as a dentist in Clear Lake City in the suburbs of Houston. Bob also, with the skilled assistance of his good friend Bobby Hill, opened and operated a

successful dental laboratory known as K-Key Mining Company. He was loved by his patients, many of whom declared him to be "The Painless Dentist." He was steady and precise as a dentist just as he was in his everyday life.

Bob retired on his beloved ranch, The Kennedy Key, in Navarro County with wife Annette where he had become a cattle rancher with the help of his good friend, Danny Combs. Bob was an all around good man who was loved by many, and who loved the Lord, his family, his country, his friends, and his church, First Baptist Church of Kerens.

In addition to his parents, Bob is predeceased by his older sister, Bettie Marie La Verge, and a baby boy, Edwin, who died shortly after birth in 1956. Bob is survived by his wife Annette Kennedy, daughter Karen Kennedy, son Robert D. Kennedy, and four grandchildren Korri Foster, Jay Kennedy, Kara Kennedy, and Klare Kennedy. He is also survived by his only great grandchild, Jack Thomas Kennedy, son of Jay and his wife Sabrina Kennedy.

At Bob's request, in lieu of a memorial service, he asked that you all cherish your time with your loved ones around great meals. In his honor any memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Kerens and The Kerens Veterans' Memorial.