Kenneth R. Madison

Loving Father, Devoted Grandpa, Loyal Best Friend, WWII Veteran, and Charismatic Human Being

Kenneth R. Madison, 89, of Los Angeles, California and Ravenna Township, Ohio died Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Summa Akron City Hospital after an exhaustive but short battle with lung cancer that rapidly spread to his liver.

Kenneth, "Skip" to those who knew him best, born September 5, 1926 in Barberton, Ohio to Ms. Mae Stoops Madison and Mr. Jack Madison was the youngest of five children (Albert, Mildred, Art, and Thelma) born at the brink of the great depression. His meager upbringing, during this challenging time in history, lead him to a profound appreciation of not only material but immaterial things, which colored his way of life and his interactions with others throughout his life.

Ken grew up in Akron, Ohio and as a boy reveled in playing marbles, sandlot baseball, and swimming. He attended school at East High on Maple St. and at 17 he proudly enlisted in the United States Navy in the footsteps of his mentor and older bother Art. Ken served as a Navy electrician and seaman in the South Pacific on the USS Vicksburg and the USS Chicago. He was on active duty on one of the first ships to enter Tokyo Bay shortly thereafter the formal surrender. Skip and his two brothers served simultaneously during WWII; Art an engineer in the Army (killed in action while serving in France) and Albert, a Paratrooper in the Air Force. Ken was honorably discharged April 18, 1946.

After the war Ken attended art school, worked for Ohio Bell, and modeled. Though an artist at heart, because of his gregarious nature he eventually became a well known bar tender in the Akron and greater Los Angeles area, which lead him to the love of his life Joy (Yacavona) Radovic who he raised two kind, compassionate, and intelligent daughters with, Kimberly R. Madison and Vanessa Radovic-Fellows. Kenneth lived in Los Angeles with his family golfing, biking/roller skating on the coast, hiking, and playing board/card games from 1978 to 1998. Upon his retirement, Ken returned to Ohio to pursue his passion for the arts and nature with sketching, colored pencil, creating/painting models, puzzling, and woodworking that included sculpting woodland creatures. In 2012 he was elated to be a part of the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. and the Honors Flight Reunion at MAPS museum in Jackson Township.

Kenneth Madison was so much more than a collection of his actions. Skip was one of those rare individuals whose tender and fun-loving demeanor not only touch all those he encountered but it deeply influenced the lives of his daughters and granddaughters immensely. He lived seemingly without regret and consistently encouraged those he loved. He is survived by his daughters Kimberly (Culver City, CA) and Vanessa; his ex-wife and best friend Joy (Ravenna Township, Los Angeles, CA); his granddaughters Sequoyah Madison (his heart), Xochitl Madison, and Violet Fellows; his son-in-law James Fellows; as well as his nephew Frankie Miskar (Laguna Miguel, CA.), who though of him as a father. We are blessed to have shared in his existence.

Kenneth R. Madison is profoundly cherished. There will be no calling hours but Skip will be honored at memorials in the spring in Ohio and California.