KENNETH LEROY ANDREWS

Kenneth Leroy Andrews, Sr, 81, of West Greenwich, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, October 25, 2023 at home with his loving family by his side.  He was the beloved husband of the late Barbara J. (Brown) Andrews who passed away on January 2, 2021.  They were wed sixty-two years at the time of her passing.

Born in Warwick on January 1, 1942, Kenneth was the loving son of the late Aubrey W. Andrews Sr. and Gladys E. (Northup) Andrews.

Kenneth was raised in West Greenwich and was educated at the town's one-room schoolhouse.  He was employed by the West Greenwich Highway Department for several years and was also the Dog Officer for the Town of West Greenwich for several years. Ken was a volunteer for the West Greenwich Fire Department and was Deputy Chief for many years and a founding member of the Exeter-West Greenwich Little League.

Kenneth owned Kenny’s Bus Service which provided School Bus service to the Exeter and West Greenwich Public Schools and was also a heavy equipment operator and owned Kenny’s Backhoe Service.  

Kenny operated Andrews Farm in West Greenwich where he raised pigs and various livestock.   He was a 4-H member and proudly served as a volunteer and leader for over 50 years with RI 4-H.   He was a member of the Richmond Grange #6, a representative for Rhode Island on the National Pork Producers Council for many years and served 35 years as Swine Superintendent at the Washington Country Fair.  Kenneth enjoyed farming, fairs and volunteering his time and equipment to anyone that needed it but especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and in later years, his great-grandchildren.

Kenneth is survived by three loving children:  Carol L. Rathbun and her husband, Gilbert of West Greenwich, Kenneth L. Andrews, Jr. and his wife Marylee of Pelzer, SC and Wendy J. Tavares and her husband, Anthony of West Greenwich; a daughter-in-law:  Beverly Dauphinais of Hope Valley; a brother: Robert L. Andrews of West Greenwich; a sister:  Betty Wells and her husband, Wayne of Coventry; fifteen grandchildren:

Gilbert and Gregory Rathbun, Christopher and Matthew Wilcox, Kenneth, III and Michael Andrews, John Welch, Jamie and Crystal Dauphinais, Anthony and Benjamin Tavares, Allen Andrews, Jr. and Naomi, Shawna and Austen Andrews; seventeen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  He also leaves behind his pony “Tonto” and his beloved cat “Howie.”

He was the loving father of the late:   Thomas L. Andrews, Allen A. Andrews, Sr. and Lori Ann Andrews Cobbett and a brother of the late:  Aubrey Andrews, Jr., Harold, Carol and Donald Andrews, Shirley Peck and Gloria Cary.  

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours on Sunday, October 29, 2023 from 2 PM - 5 PM in the Iannotti Funeral Home at MAPLE ROOT, 2000 Nooseneck Road, Route 3, Coventry, RI.  A Funeral Service will be conducted on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 10 AM in the Iannotti Funeral Home at MAPLE ROOT.  Burial will follow in Plain Meeting House Cemetery, West Greenwich.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to:  West Greenwich Fire/Rescue Station #2, 733 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI 02817 and/or SRI 4-H Fair, 239 Plain Road, West Greenwich, RI 02817 and/or West Greenwich Animal Shelter, 280 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI 02817 att:  Chief Richard Ramsay.

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