Kenneth R. Meckes (age 96) of Clearwater, FL passed away peacefully on the early morning of February 15, 2023 at AccentCare Hospice Oak Manor Inpatient Center in Largo, FL.
Born on July 20, 1926 in Cementon, PA to the late Albert and Elsie Meckes, Kenneth enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1943 during World War II when he was only 17 years old. He served aboard the LST 656 in European and Asiatic waters, and also participated in the invasion of southern France in 1944.
Upon returning home after the war ended in April 1946, he was reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Helen L. Termena, who was born on August 10, 1926 to the late Thomas and Johanna Termena. Kenneth and Helen were both only 20 years old when they got married in 1946, and they had only one child, Thomas K. Meckes, born on April 26, 1952.
Kenneth earned a 2-year certificate from the Williamsport Technical Institute in 1950 for Diesel Service and worked as a school bus mechanic for the state of Pennsylvania for the majority of his career. Upon retiring, Kenneth and Helen moved to Treasure Island, FL in 1982 to be closer to their son and their only granddaughter, Jacquelyn S. Meckes, born in September 1986.
While sharing a mutual love for traveling around the world, Kenneth and Helen managed to go on nearly 70 cruises together throughout their lifetime, though most of their cruising adventures were achieved mainly during their retired years. Kenneth had always looked forward to the live entertainment on cruises the most, especially since he held such a great fondness for jazz, bluegrass, and gospel music. He and his wife went on cruises increasingly more often, however, right after their son passed away unexpectedly on April 14, 2014.
Together through it all, Kenneth and Helen remained happily married for an outstanding 75 years, right up until Helen passed away at their home in Clearwater, FL on September 26, 2021. Kenneth is survived by his only granddaughter, Jacquelyn, who misses her father and now her grandparents both very dearly.
Full military honors and service are March, 9, 2023@ 11:00 AM at the Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, Florida 33744 with the American Legion Post 273 and the United States Navy conducting full military honors and burial ceremony.
