Raymond J. Mckenna

Raymond J. McKenna, 95, passed away peacefully at Roberts Health Care Centre in North Kingstown on April 7 ^th . Ray was born in Providence in 1923 and raised in Mount Pleasant. The son of William and Helen (O’Connor) McKenna, he graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and enlisted in the Army Air Force as soon as the under-aged Ray could convince his mother to sign the papers.

He served in the Air Transport Command aboard C-54 cargo aircraft in the European theater of operations.  Ray made numerous flights in and out of Europe, ferrying supplies and personnel into the theater and returning with wounded soldiers and others, including delivering the French delegation to the nascent United Nations. His transits included time in Greenland, Iceland, the Azores and Casablanca, and with many flights in and out of Paris. Years after the war, Ray rediscovered the joy of flying by again getting his pilot’s license.

Ray married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Dorothy Smalley. They had a joyous sixty-five year marriage. They raised three children, Barbara A., Raymond J. Jr. and Thomas A., giving them a most happy home.

A long time employee and proud union member with the Narragansett Electric Company, Ray was also a fifty-eight year resident of East Greenwich, where his front porch was a gathering place for friends and neighbors.

Having grown up poor during the Depression, Ray was a generous supporter of those in need, and especially children, throughout his life.

He is survived by his three children, as well as son-in-law Allen Mongeau and two daughters-in law, Gail (Ray) McKenna and Dianne (Tom) McKenna.

Additionally Ray left seven grandchildren and their spouses: Jennifer Boschi and her husband Steven, Kisten Meroski and her husband Michael, Susan Bruce her and husband Timothy, Margaret McKenna and her wife Margaret McConnell, Daniel Deane McKenna and his wife Megan, Liliana Rocio McKenna and her husband Matthew, Joseph Raymond McKenna and step-grandchildren Scott Mongeau and his wife Marloes, and Bethany Mongeau.

He was also blessed to have six great-grandchildren: Kaylin and Jack Boschi, Owen and Finn Meroski, and Theodore and Malcolm McKenna.

A Celebration of Lif Service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Greenwich at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, with a reception to follow. Contributions in his memory will be gratefully received by Children’s Friends, 153 Summer Street, Providence, RI 02903. https://www.cfsri.org/.