Kenneth G. Blundell, Sr. (1926 – 2017)
January 9, 2018
Kenneth G. Blundell Sr. passed away peacefully at the age of 91 November 24, 2017. He established Blundell Adjustment Company in Kingston, NY over 50 Years ago. He was a long time member of the New York Association of Independent Adjusters and served as President from 1978 – 1979.
Kenneth G. Blundell, Sr., who had an energetic and full life, died peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 with his family present. He was 91. Up until recently he had been able to travel and visit with his large family of seven children, his 15 grand-children and his 9 great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Patricia (Danaher)Blundell; his four sons Edward, Kenneth Jr.; John and Frank plus two daughters Judith and Patricia. One daughter Jeannine died in 2014. Ken Sr. grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., being born there in 1926. He and his family weathered the Depression era and he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1944 wanting to be a pilot. World War II was winding down so after training he was shipped to Europe as part the occupation and peace efforts, being stationed in Germany and France. Upon his return to the U.S. in late 1946 he met his future wife and her family. He was guided by his future brothers-in-law to join them in their police or fireman jobs in N.Y.C. Instead he chose to take the New York State Police exam since he had decided he wanted to get out of urban New York to do police work upstate. Successful in his quest, he was a Trooper for many years in Sullivan and Ulster Counties when staff lived in barracks and wore jodhpur style pants. He left the job for private sector work but was always a Trooper at heart. Family had started to arrive and grow so he opened a successful indsurance adjusting company, known as Blundell Adjustment Co. Inc. over 50 years ago. His daughter Judith Blundell manages and operates the company to this day. He bought one of the stone houses in uptown Kingston for the office where he could work and also realize his love of history. He had served as President in the New York Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters and National Association of Insurance Adjusters so travelled extensively with those groups. An offshoot of his work specialty led to his being appointed Chair of the Ulster County Arson Task Force. Ken Sr. was active in St. Mary of the Snow Parish and served as a Lector at church for decades as wells the Knights of Columbus where he was a past Grand Knight. He was also a very early Democrat in Ulster County in the days when there were very few of that party in the area. In fact, JFK’s brother Robert Kennedy campaigned locally for the 1960 election and Ken was there coordinating the appearance. Baseball remained a passion all his life and years ago he enjoyed coaching with the Babe Ruth League locally. In the course of his life he always kept a boat and up until a few months ago could be seen sailing on the Hudson River with his sons.