102-year-old local veteran hero laid to rest

DELMAR, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A local hero met his final resting place on Tuesday. Sir Kenneth Bailey was 102-years-old and died two months shy of his 103rd birthday. Family members shared memories of his legacy.

His funeral was held at the Applebee’s Funeral Home followed by a procession to the Bethlehem Cemetery.

He graduated from Bethlehem High School in 1939 and in 1942 he reported to basic training for the U.S. Army 4th Cavalry in Fort Meade, South Dakota where he started his storied career. 

Bailey's granddaughters Veronica McCollum and Tracy Hahn said he was always up for an adventure.

“What didn’t he do,” said McCollum. Her cousin echoed that sentiment.

“WWII veteran, a lot of accolades. That was just one part of him. that was the veteran part of him but he was also our grandfather,” said Hahn.

He married the love of his life, Florence, in 1942 and they had their first of three sons the next year.

“Many memories from loving stock car races, building his own stock cars when he was a kid. I have a few years on Tracy here but riding around in go karts, tricycles, it didn’t matter. Grandpa was always out there,” said McCollum.

“Anything with a start and finish line that had a need for speed he loves. So Nascar, stock car, horse racing, anything that had a track,” said Hahn.

But it was his army career that earned him a procession to the cemetery by the Patriot Guard Riders. Hahn listed some of his most notable achievements and accolades.

“He landed on Utah Beach six days after D-day. He was awarded a bronze star. Just recently in 2015, he was awarded the French Legion of Honour medal and was knighted in New York City by the French minister of defense,” said Hahn.

McCollum said he loved spending time with his family in Tupper Lake. Hahn said he stayed adventurous until the day he died.

“To this day, he was still riding four wheelers and riding on the back of motorcycles with friends up until 102-years-old. He loved life to the fullest, for sure,” said Hahn.

His memories will live on in the hearts of his surviving son, Jack, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his friends who paid their respects and celebrated his life.