Rev. Dr. Wayne Kendall (’92)
The following obituary was originally published by Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home and can be found here.
Reverend Dr. Wayne Kendall, 86, a resident of Townsend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Fitchburg Healthcare surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Janice (Nolan) Kendall with whom he shared 23 years of marriage.
He was born in Leominster on November 3, 1938, and was the son of the late Edward and Carol (Wilson) Kendall.
Wayne was raised in Townsend and 
spent his high school years in Leominster. After the loss of his girlfriend, Claudia, in his senior year, and graduating in 1956, he decided to enter the service and joined the Air Force where he served for over 4 years in various locations such as in Greenland, Labrador, and Truro as an Electronics Technician. After years in the service and marrying Dorothy in 1961 he worked at Sanders and Raytheon for a couple years, but feeling the calling of God, went to Kentucky Wesleyan College and then to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree as well as his Masters in Divinity, and PhD in Psychology and pastoral care at Boston University. Wayne was always a sensitive, caring, thoughtful, and beloved Reverend who served over 15 congregations over his career. Congregants appreciated his warm, kind, sense of humor. His sermons were meaningful, and spirit filled. He was a member of the New England Conference, and was involved in Westford Against Substance Abuse, and Graniteville Pride for many years.
Among his various hobbies are bird watching, hiking, drawing, astronomy, woodworking, reading, puzzles and, exercising but probably the most important one to him was “visiting” people.
In addition to his loving wife, Jan, her daughter Kimberly Fahle Peck, step son-in-law Mike Peck, and grandson Walter Peck, Rev. Kendall leaves his son Scott Kendall of Chelmsford and granddaughter Vail-Marie Kendall of Nashua, NH, his son Brian Kendall and his wife Nancy of Westford; his grandsons Patrick and Ryan and his wife, Nikki; his step great grandchild Thomas, and his great grandchildren Parker and Benson. Many of you may recall when he talks about them, he speaks about how it is the first time he has ever been “great.” He also leaves behind his sister, Del Tomasi, his niece Becky Wheeler, and his nephew Matt Leupold.
Sadly, he is predeceased by his wife Dorothy E. (Staples) Kendall of over 39 years who passed away in 2000.
Memorial donations may be made in Rev. Kendall’s name to the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, 68 Tadmuck Road Ste. 1, Westford, MA 01886. For online donations, please visit Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, from 1 pm – 4 pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His funeral service will take place on Monday, February 10 at 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church of Westford, 10 Church St., Westford. KINDLY GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment to follow in West Chelmsford Cemetery, Chelmsford.