Donald "Buddy" Kuykendall

Donald “Buddy” Kuykendall, age 74, of Marion, North Carolina passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Rosehill Retirement Home in Marion. A native of McDowell County, Buddy was born on January 18, 1945 to the late Fred and Margaret Ledford Kuykendall.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Ruby Kelley and husband Grady, two brothers, William “JR” Kuykendall and Carl “Bill” Kuykendall and his best friend and Vietnam Veteran, John McMahan.

Buddy attended Zion Hill Baptist Church for many years. He enjoyed softball, horseshoes and bowling. He was an original member of the McDowell County Horseshoe Pitchers Club and won multiple state titles in his sport. Buddy was a self-employed roofer for over forty years and was an avid fan of the University of North Carolina Tarheels and Atlanta Braves. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Judith Greer Kuykendall; one son, John Kuykendall (Donna); one grandson, Chris Kuykendall; one sister-in-law, Gladys L. Kuykendall and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will take place on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Beam Funeral Service with Dr. Tom Walker and Mr. Paul Baker. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service at Chapel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Buddy’s memory to, The Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.