Chester Dan Kavanaugh 91, slept away at his home March 20, 2021. He was born on June 17, 1929 in Richmond, Ky, the youngest of 3 siblings William and Roosevelt Kavanaugh born to the union of Pleas and Liller Kavanaugh who have all preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ida Vivian Kavanaugh.
Dad graduated from Richmond High School in 1947, enlisted in 1951, was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1953, and graduated from West Kentucky Vocational School (Paducah, Ky) in 1955 with a certificate in shoe repair. After his education he was joined in matrimony to Ida Vivian Shearer on March 18, 1956. From this union 2 daughters were born: Vivian Sharon and Janice Denice Kavanaugh.
After moving to Dayton, Ohio after receiving his trade he got a job at Walt’s shoe repair and worked for 2 years. He was then asked to manage the 2nd location that was in Swifton Commons for 7 years. With dad now preparing to build a family he stepped away from shoe repair temporarily to support his dream of opening his own shoe repair by working at NuMaid margarine for 7 years. Then his dream came to life when he opened up Cherry Grove Shoe Repair in Cherry Grove Plaza where he built many relationships and broke many racial barriers. He expanded his craft with orthopedic work filling prescriptions from podiatrists from building shoes, arch supports and special insoles. He patented a very successful metatarsal bar which corrected bones in the legs and feet.
He was baptized at an early age at Concord Predestinarian Baptist Church In Richmond, Ky.
When he got settled in Cincinnati with his family he became a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Lockland, OH under Rev. Otis Moss, Jr. He was a member of the male chorus, taught Sunday school, and was ordained as a deacon. His last 40+ years he joined Southern Baptist Church under Rev. James E. Milton where he continued teaching Sunday school 30+ years and served on the Deacon board. He was known for his singing and his prayer.
Dad had many hobbies and loved life itself. He loved to go fishing, hunting, gun collecting, raised a garden on his farm in Bethel, OH, raising all types of flowers including rooster cones, roses, and impatiens among his favorites. He loved all animals big and small like his many cattle, chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs and fish. We can never forget the baby deer abandoned by the side of the road that dad raised on the farm for years named Bo-diddly. The hobby he loved the most was bird dog training and field trials. He won hundreds of trophies and plaques that lined the walls of the shoe shop and made great conversation pieces especially his stuffed birds that he personally hunted and now cover the walls in his home.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife Ida Vivian Kavanaugh; 2 daughters, Vivian Kavanaugh Lee (Carl) and Janice Dukes (Charles) ; 3 grandchildren, SeVonne Kavanaugh, Jiara Wilson, and Jeremy Judkins; 4 great grandchildren, Ca'Raii, CJ and CeVeon Reese and Kalaya Wilson-Davis; a host of nieces, nephews , cousins, and special friends John and Bernice Kirk.
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