Kenneth C. McCool

Kenneth Craig McCool, 74, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour on June 15, 2024.

He was born September 19, 1949 in Jamestown N.Y. The son of Keith and Patricia (Merritt) McCool.

Ken graduated from Ashtabula High School in 1967, earned a business management associate degree from Kent State University, a baccalaureate from Excelsior University and his masters at Old Dominion University.

He proudly served in the U.S. Navy 1968-72 during Vietnam as an Aviation Ordinanceman with VA122 and VA147 attack squadrons stationed in Lemoore, California. He did two West PAC cruises aboard the aircraft carriers USS Constellation CV-64 and USS America CV-66 back-to-back at Yankee Station, off the coast of Vietnam. After the war, Ken came home to Ashtabula and worked for STP Corporation in Painesville, OH. In 1984, Ken reenlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Sonarman attaining the rank of First Class Petty Officer aboard the USS Yorktown CG-48, USS Mobile Bay CG-53 (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) the USS Simpson FFG-56. Ken also served on the USS Prairie. He retired in 2000 as an instructor at Damneck, VA and from the fleet reserve in 2008.

He married the love of his life Mary Janet Cushnyr on January 9, 1971. They celebrated 53 years of marriage in 2024 with one son, Benjamin Keith McCool.

Ken’s passion was reading, story telling and debating. The family joke was never ask Ken for the “short” answer because he would always elaborate on anything. Ken was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ashtabula, OH, but during his career joined many congregations wherever he was stationed.

Ken is survived by his wife, son and his beloved grandson, Liam Peter McCool, who just joined the U.S. Marine Corp.; sister, Brenda Greenawalt and sister-in-law, Charalene Kimble and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and eldest sister, Beckey Young.

A greeting by family will be at 10:30 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am Saturday, June 22nd, at the First Baptist Church of Ashtabula, 4353 Park Ave, Ashtabula, Ohio. A luncheon at the church will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve or First Baptist Church. 

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