Kent Waddell peacefully passed away on Friday night, after living a long, full life. He died from a medical condition he proudly called TDO (too damn old). He was born in Manila, Philippines on December 17, 1916 to Cyrus and Golden Kelley Waddell, who were teachers at a school for Philippine children.
His wife of 64 years, Kay, preceded him in death in 2006.
Kent grew up in Sedgwick and Wichita Kansas. He began loving motorcycles and airplanes while in high school. He graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in geology in 1938. Kent earned a Masters degree in geology at the University of Texas in 1941. During World War II, Kent worked for the Boeing Company as a factory representative, and logged more hours in B-29s than most Army Air Force pilots. Kay and Kent moved to Abilene in 1950 with their two older children. He worked in the oil field full time until motorcycles and airplanes began to take over his interests in the early 1960s. He started Kent's Harley-Davidson in a small shop on Walnut, and was a founder of Abilene Aero. Even in his nineties, he was active in both businesses.
He was honored by the Taylor County Chapter of the American Heart Association at Heart Beat '09. The program noted: "Kent Waddell has been a fighter who has loved life. He has survived adversity and lived on. He is probably the best friend one could have. He managed to turn his hobbies into businesses - liked motorcycles, got a motorcycle shop; liked airplanes, got an airport; and loved geology and reading the earth, and made a living sitting on wells. One of the family friends said a long time ago - Kent's got everything wrong with him, and he's going to outlive us all. He's 92, and nowhere near ready to quit!"
Kent is survived by Meredith Waddell and David Kaplan of Hudson, NY; Rick and Diana Waddell of Boulder, CO; Grady and Rose Waddell of Abilene and Austin, TX, and Ginger Waddell and Efrain Perez of Costa Rica; 10 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Monday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX. On Tuesday morning, there will be a motorcycle procession leaving Kent's Harley-Davidson, located at 3106 S. Clack, at 10:00 a.m. The service, with Reverend Janis Six officiating, will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange Street, Abilene, TX.
The family has requested that those who wish to make a donation in his name in place of flowers do so to the American Heart Association , P.O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.
The family also requests that Kent's friends start each day remembering his recent advice "Do what you can while you can!" Kent did!
Online condolences may be posted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.
Published in Abilene Reporter-News on September 27, 2010
His wife of 64 years, Kay, preceded him in death in 2006.
Kent grew up in Sedgwick and Wichita Kansas. He began loving motorcycles and airplanes while in high school. He graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in geology in 1938. Kent earned a Masters degree in geology at the University of Texas in 1941. During World War II, Kent worked for the Boeing Company as a factory representative, and logged more hours in B-29s than most Army Air Force pilots. Kay and Kent moved to Abilene in 1950 with their two older children. He worked in the oil field full time until motorcycles and airplanes began to take over his interests in the early 1960s. He started Kent's Harley-Davidson in a small shop on Walnut, and was a founder of Abilene Aero. Even in his nineties, he was active in both businesses.
He was honored by the Taylor County Chapter of the American Heart Association at Heart Beat '09. The program noted: "Kent Waddell has been a fighter who has loved life. He has survived adversity and lived on. He is probably the best friend one could have. He managed to turn his hobbies into businesses - liked motorcycles, got a motorcycle shop; liked airplanes, got an airport; and loved geology and reading the earth, and made a living sitting on wells. One of the family friends said a long time ago - Kent's got everything wrong with him, and he's going to outlive us all. He's 92, and nowhere near ready to quit!"
Kent is survived by Meredith Waddell and David Kaplan of Hudson, NY; Rick and Diana Waddell of Boulder, CO; Grady and Rose Waddell of Abilene and Austin, TX, and Ginger Waddell and Efrain Perez of Costa Rica; 10 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Monday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX. On Tuesday morning, there will be a motorcycle procession leaving Kent's Harley-Davidson, located at 3106 S. Clack, at 10:00 a.m. The service, with Reverend Janis Six officiating, will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange Street, Abilene, TX.
The family has requested that those who wish to make a donation in his name in place of flowers do so to the American Heart Association , P.O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.
The family also requests that Kent's friends start each day remembering his recent advice "Do what you can while you can!" Kent did!
Online condolences may be posted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.
Published in Abilene Reporter-News on September 27, 2010
Kent Waddell peacefully passed away on Friday night, after living a long, full life. He died from a medical condition he proudly called TDO (too damn old). He was born in Manila, Philippines on December 17, 1916 to Cyrus and Golden Kelley Waddell, who were teachers at a school for Philippine children.
His wife of 64 years, Kay, preceded him in death in 2006.
Kent grew up in Sedgwick and Wichita Kansas. He began loving motorcycles and airplanes while in high school. He graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in geology in 1938. Kent earned a Masters degree in geology at the University of Texas in 1941. During World War II, Kent worked for the Boeing Company as a factory representative, and logged more hours in B-29s than most Army Air Force pilots. Kay and Kent moved to Abilene in 1950 with their two older children. He worked in the oil field full time until motorcycles and airplanes began to take over his interests in the early 1960s. He started Kent's Harley-Davidson in a small shop on Walnut, and was a founder of Abilene Aero. Even in his nineties, he was active in both businesses.
He was honored by the Taylor County Chapter of the American Heart Association at Heart Beat '09. The program noted: "Kent Waddell has been a fighter who has loved life. He has survived adversity and lived on. He is probably the best friend one could have. He managed to turn his hobbies into businesses - liked motorcycles, got a motorcycle shop; liked airplanes, got an airport; and loved geology and reading the earth, and made a living sitting on wells. One of the family friends said a long time ago - Kent's got everything wrong with him, and he's going to outlive us all. He's 92, and nowhere near ready to quit!"
Kent is survived by Meredith Waddell and David Kaplan of Hudson, NY; Rick and Diana Waddell of Boulder, CO; Grady and Rose Waddell of Abilene and Austin, TX, and Ginger Waddell and Efrain Perez of Costa Rica; 10 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Monday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX. On Tuesday morning, there will be a motorcycle procession leaving Kent's Harley-Davidson, located at 3106 S. Clack, at 10:00 a.m. The service, with Reverend Janis Six officiating, will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange Street, Abilene, TX.
The family has requested that those who wish to make a donation in his name in place of flowers do so to the American Heart Association , P.O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.
The family also requests that Kent's friends start each day remembering his recent advice "Do what you can while you can!" Kent did!
Online condolences may be posted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.
Published in Abilene Reporter-News on September 27, 2010
His wife of 64 years, Kay, preceded him in death in 2006.
Kent grew up in Sedgwick and Wichita Kansas. He began loving motorcycles and airplanes while in high school. He graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in geology in 1938. Kent earned a Masters degree in geology at the University of Texas in 1941. During World War II, Kent worked for the Boeing Company as a factory representative, and logged more hours in B-29s than most Army Air Force pilots. Kay and Kent moved to Abilene in 1950 with their two older children. He worked in the oil field full time until motorcycles and airplanes began to take over his interests in the early 1960s. He started Kent's Harley-Davidson in a small shop on Walnut, and was a founder of Abilene Aero. Even in his nineties, he was active in both businesses.
He was honored by the Taylor County Chapter of the American Heart Association at Heart Beat '09. The program noted: "Kent Waddell has been a fighter who has loved life. He has survived adversity and lived on. He is probably the best friend one could have. He managed to turn his hobbies into businesses - liked motorcycles, got a motorcycle shop; liked airplanes, got an airport; and loved geology and reading the earth, and made a living sitting on wells. One of the family friends said a long time ago - Kent's got everything wrong with him, and he's going to outlive us all. He's 92, and nowhere near ready to quit!"
Kent is survived by Meredith Waddell and David Kaplan of Hudson, NY; Rick and Diana Waddell of Boulder, CO; Grady and Rose Waddell of Abilene and Austin, TX, and Ginger Waddell and Efrain Perez of Costa Rica; 10 grandchildren; and three step grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Monday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX. On Tuesday morning, there will be a motorcycle procession leaving Kent's Harley-Davidson, located at 3106 S. Clack, at 10:00 a.m. The service, with Reverend Janis Six officiating, will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange Street, Abilene, TX.
The family has requested that those who wish to make a donation in his name in place of flowers do so to the American Heart Association , P.O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.
The family also requests that Kent's friends start each day remembering his recent advice "Do what you can while you can!" Kent did!
Online condolences may be posted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.
Published in Abilene Reporter-News on September 27, 2010
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