Early on May 17th, Kenneth Alton McVay passed peacefully at home. Ken loved his family, the Marine Corps and sailing, but mostly he loved Ruth, his devoted wife of 64 years.

Born in Providence, he grew up in Cranston, the son of Howard Wesley McVay and Marjorie (Jellison) McVay. The youngest of four brothers, he was predeceased by Ernest and George, and is survived by Howard.

He graduated from Cranston High and enlisted in the US Marine Corps at the age of 17. The Marines sent him to Korea, where he survived the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Inchon Landing, and spent two tours in Vietnam. He retired after 30 years as Lt. Col., the recipient of a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Ken was one of the few Marines to work his way through all the ranks, from Private through to Sergeant Major, selection as an officer, and through the ranks again to Lt. Col.

He and Ruth retired to Bristol, R.I., where he attended Rhode Island College studying, and then teaching, Industrial Technology. During the summers he and Ruth ran a live-aboard sailing school, on their boat Pizzazz. In 1994, he retired again, cruising the world with Ruth on 56 different cruises. He was a volunteer docent at Herreshoff Museum, and was active in the Barrington United Methodist Church.

He leaves behind his loving wife Ruth, a daughter, Marilyn (McVay) Mathison, and two sons, Michael Kenneth McVay and Mark Howard McVay, a son-in-law Scott and daughter-in-law Debbie, and grandchildren Allison (McVay) Aguilar and her husband Marc, Lindsey McVay, Lydea Irwin, Marcel McVay, and Maxwell McVay, and great-grandchildren Elijah, Abigail, and Andrew Aguilar.

His service will be held on Monday, May 23, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. from the Wilbur-Romano Funeral Home, 615 Main St., Warren, with a funeral service at 10 a.m. in Barrington United Methodist Church, 230 Washington Road, Barrington.

Burial will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, South County Trail, Exeter. Visitation is Sunday, 3-6 p.m. Contributions may be made in his memory to Barrington United Methodist Church. For information and condolences, visit www.wilbur-romano.com.