David
Alan Kenyon, 78, of Derby and Colchester, Vt., passed peacefully on
March 10, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester,
surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 29, 1947, to
Willie Mae Burkett, in Burlington, Vt. Soon after, he was adopted by
Frederic and Delia (Morcomb) Kenyon of Burlington.
David
was a highly respected electrical inspector for the State of Vermont
from 1974 to 2000, ensuring safety in many public buildings and
multifamily housing units built during that time.
A
lifelong resident of Vermont, he grew up on the shores of Lake
Champlain in the Queen City Park neighborhood of South Burlington. It
was there that he came to love the outdoors, especially fishing and
boating. As a child, he had fun playing in the woods and on the lake
in rowboats with his cousin Mike Silliman. He also enjoyed hunting
and skiing. David attended South Burlington High School, where he
played football and made many friends.
David
met Norma “Jean” Bradbury of South Burlington during high school,
and they were married on August 26, 1967, while he was studying
electrical engineering at Vermont Technical College. They honeymooned
in Bermuda, and David graduated from VTC in 1968. They spent the
summer of 1970 on a road trip exploring Canadian provinces and the
northern U.S., including Alaska, visiting many national parks along
the way. The couple enjoyed snowmobiling, skiing, and driving the
country roads of Vermont by car and motorcycle. Their travels
included sailing and cruising in the Caribbean; motorcycle rides
around the Northeast, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Florida; and road
trips out west and to the Maritime Provinces.
Over
the years they lived in South Burlington, Randolph Center, Hinesburg,
Derby and Colchester.
David
and Jean were blessed with a son, Robert Patrick, in 1972, and a
daughter, Lisa Ann, in 1974. The couple raised their children in
South Burlington, not far from their own parents’ homes. David was
a family man, sharing his love of reading, snowmobiling,
four-wheeling, boating, hunting and fishing with his children, who
have fond memories of him playing in the pool, camping in their
camper, taking walks in the country and spending time together with
their grandparents. Robert has special memories of hunting adventures
with his father in beautiful remote wilderness locations. Lisa
especially remembers when she had days off from school and he took
her to jobsites and restaurants for lunch, as well as skating on the
lake, skiing, playing with matchbox cars and summer evenings
woodchuck hunting with him. The family enjoyed vacations together,
including a road trip out west camping along the way, getaways to the
ocean in Maine and trips to Florida. They loved going to a camp at
Seymour Lake with “Mamie” and “Bumpa” Bradbury.
After
retiring in 2000, David and Jean moved to Derby in 2003 to enjoy
country life and the many lakes in the Northeast Kingdom, where they
frequently went canoeing, fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, biking and
watching wildlife. David enjoyed gunsmithing, recreational target and
clay pigeon shooting, cowboy shooting competitions, and watching old
western movies and cowboy shows he remembered from his childhood. He
always had an interest in history and nature and liked reading books,
visiting historic sites and watching PBS documentaries.
Eighteenth-century history was a particular interest of his, shared
by his son and grandson.
David
and Jean were delighted by the arrival of two grandchildren, Isabella
and Nicholas, in the 2000s. They loved spending time with their
Grampy, whether it was reading, playing, fishing, going for drives
around backcountry roads or riding on the lawn tractor. His
grandchildren had a special bond with him, characterized by endless
fun and joking. Some of his grandchildren’s favorite memories with
him were waking up to the smell of his pancakes on lazy mornings,
boating, skiing, making s’mores around the campfire at their Derby
home and ice cream sundaes. David dearly loved his family and
cherished his grandchildren, to whom he bequeathed his signature
sense of humor and many joyful childhood memories. Nothing made him
happier than spending time with them. His children and grandchildren
enjoyed his stories, including “Fluff the Kitty” as well as
“George and Ruff” stories handed down from Bumpa Bradbury.
In
his early fifties, David had the incredible fortune of finding his
birth mother, and they formed a quick and loving relationship that
brought tremendous joy to both of them. They had a wonderful time
together and shared a strong sense of humor. Her family was very
welcoming, and he greatly enjoyed getting to know them.
David
leaves behind his best friend and loving wife of 57 years, Norma Jean
(Bradbury) Kenyon; two wonderful children, Robert (Heather
Kenyon-Haff) and Lisa Kenyon Basille; adoring grandchildren, Nicholas
Kenyon and Isabella Basille, all of Colchester; siblings, JoAnn
Kenyon of Ogden, Utah, George M. (Mick) Hoyt of Watertown, Conn.,
Diane Knights of Bennington, Vt., Keith (Lori) Hoyt of Bennington;
and Tracy (Tina) Hoyt of White Creek, N.Y.; sisters-in-law Judith
Bradbury of South Burlington and Christine Tsan (Wylie) of
Naperville, Ill.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He also
leaves behind a devoted friend since second grade, Daniel Leonard
(Linda) of Ryegate, Vt.
David
was predeceased by his parents, Frederic and Delia (Morcomb) Kenyon
of South Burlington; his birth mother, Willie Mae (Burkett) Hoyt of
Bennington; Jean’s parents, Henry and Eleanor Bradbury of South
Burlington; sister-in-law Constance Hoyt of Watertown; and
brother-in-law James Knights of Bennington.
There
will be a celebration of David’s life in early summer. If you would
like to be notified, please send a message to vermont.jk@gmail.com.
The
family is grateful for the wonderful care given to him over the past
six years at the University of Vermont Dialysis Centers in Newport
and Burlington and are thankful for the comfort and attention he
received from the nurses and staff during the time he enjoyed at the
Samuel F. Vilas Assisted Living Home in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The family
is also very appreciative of the loving care and compassionate
support given to all of us at the McClure Miller Respite House in
Colchester. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and
condolences.
This article appears in The Money & Retirement Issue 2025.