Dr. Kenneth Rix DVM, 76, of Little Compton, R.I., passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. The son of the late William Burgess and Alice Florence (Miliczkowski) Rix and the loving husband of Barbara (Zbyszewski) Rix for 19 years, Kenneth was a proud resident of Little Compton for over 30 years.

Kenneth shared ownership of Sakonnet Veterinary Hospital in Tiverton, R.I. with his fellow veterinarian, William Condon. Kenneth worked at his practice for 45 years until his retirement in 2017. He loved his job and devoted his life to caring for animals and working with his clients and staff.

Kenneth’s passion was gardening and he was known to spend an entire day tending to his plants. He was a URI Master Gardener and served as a mentor in the URI Master Gardener core training program. He also had the opportunity to host “Gardening with the Masters Tour” twice in 2021.

Kenneth was involved with the building of the Hunts Mills Community Garden Project and was a member of the East Providence Historical Society. He was also a member of the RI Republican Conservative Caucus, the RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity, the Quindecim Club, the Little Compton PG Club, and was an active participant in the Little Compton GOP Committee.

In his free time, Kenneth loved to travel and enjoyed cycling around Little Compton.

Above all else, he was a devoted husband to his wife Barbara and a loving father and grandfather. He was thoughtful, inquisitive, caring, and helpful. He was a voracious reader, frequently educating himself on new topics. Ken was known to drop everything to help a friend or his family, whether that meant showing up in his pickup truck with little notice or building something with his own hands to solve the problem.

He was also Mr. Fix-it and could fix almost anything with his many tools and workshop. He showed his love through acts of service and poured that love into everything he touched. Gratitude and working towards achievable goals were the pillars he built his life around.

In addition to his loving wife, Barbara, Kenneth is the brother of the late Robert Carl Rix and Nancy Ann Martin (Kenneth H Martin). He is survived by his sister, Patricia Milette, sister-in-law Lorraine Rix, sons, Scott Rix and his wife Susan Lyons, Ethan Rix and Gordon Rix; his daughters, Jennifer Rix and her husband Alejandro Huneeus and Natalie Rix; three step-children, Bethany Sardinha, Caitlin Toevs and her husband Gregory; and Adam Sardinha and his wife Samantha; and ten grandchildren. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and long-time friends.

Services are with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Rd. Warren, R.I., where the family will receive relatives and friends for visitation on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, from 4 to 7 p.m. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at 10 a.m. in Victory Church, 91 Crandall Rd. Tiverton, RI. For tributes, please visit www.wjsmithfh.com