Kenneth Charles Jordan, 86, formerly of Coolridge Avenue, Greenville and, more recently, of Briarcliffe Manor, Johnston, passed away on Thursday March 7th in the Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence. He was the husband of the late Dolores J. Jordan.
Born in Pittsfield, MA, a son of the late Clarence B. and Lucy (Powell) Jordan, he had lived in the Village of Greenville for 52 years, previously living in Springfield, Massachusetts. He had been a resident in the Memory Care Residence at Briarcliffe Gardens in Johnston for the last five years.
Ken was a US Navy veteran and was assigned to the USS Blandy off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October/November of 1962. He had graduated from the Springfield Trade School, class of 1955. He was the Superintendent of the Engineering Department with Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut, retiring in 1993. Following his retirement, he worked for Hoffman Engineering and for the Scituate School Department.
Ken had been a member of the American Legion, Post 64 Smithfield, Smithfield Elks, BPOE 2359 Smithfield, and had served as a Den Father for the Cub Scouts, Troop 43.
He leaves his children, Brian Jordan and his wife Lori of West Greenwich, and Brenda Hurley and her husband Bob of Uxbridge, MA. He was the grandfather of Samuel and Gillian Jordan and Emma and Madeline Hurley. He was predeceased by his sister Marie (Jordan) Wlodyka, and his brothers Donald Jordan, Walter Jordan, and Robert Jordan.
Ken was a communicant of St. Philip’s Church in Greenville. His Catholic faith and attending Mass were important to him, and he would often pray the Rosary with his wife.
Ken loved country music long before it was cool to love country music. He was a big fan of Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and other pioneers of country music. He was also a faithful viewer of Hee Haw on Saturday nights in the 1970s.
Ken was a Patriots season ticket holder and attended many games with his son Brian. He and Brian also attended a few Patriots away games. After many home games, Ken and Brian would often enjoy dinner at Spumoni’s in Pawtucket while playing a few rounds of Keno at the bar. Ken also enjoyed many wonderful home cooked meals prepared by his daughter-in-law Lori. Before dinner, Ken loved to have some shrimp and a beer or two while watching Detective Joe Kenda on the Investigation Discovery Channel, or old reruns of the Dean Martin Show or Carol Burnett Show.
Ken found tremendous joy in his yearly visits to Red Sox games with his daughter Brenda. He also cherished family vacations with Brenda, son-in-law Bob and granddaughters Emma and Madeline. For Ken, any time spent with his young granddaughters was a treasured moment. If a cookout was involved at Brenda and Bob’s house, especially on a nice day, it was an even more treasured experience. A chicken dinner with family at Wright’s Farm was almost as good as winning the lottery.
As much as he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, Ken truly loved spending time with his siblings and their children in the Berkshires town of Cummington, Massachusetts. Multiple bottles of beer were consumed, and many (mostly) true stories were exchanged during these decades-long weekend visits. Ken was heartbroken when Bob, his last sibling and co-conspirator in mischief, passed away in Chicopee, Massachusetts in 2016.
While living in Greenville, Ken was always known to lend a helping hand to family or neighbors in need. Whether he was shoveling snow, installing a furnace or hot water heater, helping with plumbing repairs, mowing a lawn, or helping with other odd jobs, big or small, Ken’s charity and work ethic were second-to-none. He was a handyman extraordinaire.
Ken’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff and caregivers at Briarcliffe for their loving care of Ken during the last five years. His family would also like to thank Dr. John Stoukides and the staff and caregivers at Roger Williams Medical Center, as well as at Continuum Hospice Care—Rhode Island, for their compassionate, around-the-clock care during Ken’s last week of life.
His funeral will be held Monday March 11th at 9:30am from the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Park. Visitation Monday March 11th 8am to 9:30am. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Chartercare Foundation, 7 Waterman Avenue, North Providence, RI 02911, or to Continuum Hospice Care—Rhode Island, 1350 Division Road, Suite 205, West Warwick, RI 02893.