Mary Frances “Cass” Swink Kennedy, age 95, of Fairmont, died Wednesday, January 9, 2019.
Born on a farm outside of Cass in Pocahontas County, she was a daughter of the late Price L. and Lela Alice Cassel Swink.
After graduating from Green Bank High School, Mary left home to attend business college, and settled in Fairmont. She was so homesick that she was got the nickname ‘Cass’ after her hometown; and that is the name most of her friends knew her by.
She met and married John P. Kennedy in Fairmont, and they were one of the first couples to build and move into Country Club Estates. They worked together at the Marion Paper Company and subsequently Alling & Cory, both retiring from that company. They enjoyed many adventures together and traveled extensively, even going to Cuba (pre-Castro) and South America.
Cass was an avid golfer and was a member of the United States Golf Association, West Virginia Golf Association, the Mountaineer League and the Fairmont Field Club. She had won various championships over the years, even scoring a hole in one in 1985. She was still an active golfer until she gave it up just shy of her 94th birthday. She also enjoyed following the PGA.
She followed various sports, especially golf, but she was a true Mountaineer fan, attending many games both home and away, in years past. She also loved flowers and enjoyed sitting on the back porch at home or on the family farm.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, John P. Kennedy; a brother, William “Lake” Swink; and sisters, Thelma Swink Costello and Norma Swink Hinchman.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 26, 1 p.m. at Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Road in Fairmont. Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of service. Committal service will be held Sunday, January 27, 11 a.m. in Wanless Cemetery at Cass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Marion County Soup Opera, 425 Quincy St., Fairmont, WV 26554; or Wanless Cemetery, c/o Wayne Cassell, 4055 Back Mountain Road, Cass, WV 24927.
Online condolences may be made at www.fordfuneralhomes.com
