Kenton Paul Fewell

Kenton Paul Fewell, June 6, 1948 – November 29, 2021, age 73

Kent, as he was known by nearly everyone, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, November 29, 2021. He was surrounded by love and loved ones, just the way he wanted it. He was born on June 6, 1948 in Washington D.C. to Roger Birdsall Fewell and Cora Barbara Nichter Fewell.

Kent grew up in McLean, Virginia and graduated from McLean High School in 1966. After high school, he attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA for both, his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. In 1971, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics, followed by his Master of Science in 1973.

While earning his degrees, he worked in the Cooperative Education Program in Engineering Mechanics, in Tullahoma, Tennessee for the Arnold Research Organization at AEDC. During this time, he went on a blind date in 1967, and met the love of his life, Deborah Moore. They were married in September 1969, and remained happily married for 52 years. Debbie and Kent were each other’s best friends, and they shared all of life’s adventures together as a united team.

Kent had an amazing career, and met and worked with incredible people throughout. Following his graduation from Virginia Tech, he worked for Sverdrup Technology Inc. at AEDC in Tullahoma, TN (1973-1981), DP Associates (1981-1983) and Rockwell International (1983-1996) in Huntsville, AL, and at United Space Alliance in Houston, TX from 1996 until his retirement in 2011. From the very beginning of his career, he made an impact on the United States’ Space program, and worked directly on the Space Shuttle Program for 32 years. He earned many awards and recognitions along the way, including for individual contributions to STS-1, the first Space Shuttle flight in 1981; STS-3 and the third Shuttle flight (1982); the Astronauts’ Silver Snoopy award for Professional Excellence in 1984; valuable contributions for the design of Space Station Freedom (1988-1993), ultimately absorbed into the design of the International Space Station; outstanding contributions in the recovery and investigation of the STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia accident; United Space Alliance’s Employee of the Month in January 2004; and appreciation for contributions to the entire Space Shuttle Program from 1981-2011. Though these awards barely scratch the surface of his incredible career, he remained proud yet humble about his work. His love of the Space Program was shared by his family, and evident to everyone who knew him.

Prior to the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program and his retirement in 2011, Kent dedicated his time to service, which he continued full-time after retirement. He volunteered as a Sound Technician at Friendswood United Methodist Church (at which he was a member of the congregation) from 1996–2015, and worked as a Facilities Manager for FUMC from 2013-2015; volunteered at Brazos Bend State Park in Needville, Texas from 2010-2015; he trained to become a Texas Master Naturalist at the Gulf Coast Chapter in 2012, then transferred his membership to the Galveston Bay Area Chapter in 2013, and finally to the Panhandle Chapter in 2015, serving as President of the Panhandle Chapter in 2018, and stayed active in the program until his death; he volunteered at Alibates National Monument in 2016; and volunteered at the Catholic Charities Hunger Project in Amarillo, TX in 2016. He loved volunteering, and shared many of these activities, certifications, and volunteering opportunities with his wife, Deborah.

Kent was raised a Methodist, and remained active in the church his entire life. Kent and Deborah were founding members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison, Alabama in 1986, and remained active there until relocating to Friendswood, Texas in 1996, where they joined Friendswood United Methodist Church.

No writing such as this can successfully encapsulate his life, his passions, or his memory – he was an incredible man. His family enjoyed all of the time spent with him, and loved him unconditionally (as he loved them). He was an extraordinarily talented handyman – he could build anything, make it beautiful, and fix just about anything that broke. He enjoyed reading, especially Tony Hillerman novels about the American West, and anything about the American Civil War, especially Jeff Shaara. He loved history, and visited several Civil War battle sites with his family, attended Civil War guest lectures by historian James Robertson, and more. He shared a love of grilling and barbequing with his family, and would be outside as often as possible, bird-watching, hiking, star-gazing, or swimming – nature and the outdoors helped make him happy, and he loved it and did more than his part to make sure that he left a positive impact on the environment. Kent and Debbie rescued every pet that they ever had, and got a lot of joy enjoying their company. He spent every moment he could with his wife, and family, and he was incredibly proud of each of their accomplishments.

Kent will be forever missed, forever loved, and forever remembered. He will be watching over all of us, until we meet again.

Kent was preceded in death by his mother, Cora Barbara Nichter Fewell (d. 1972), his father, Roger Birdsall Fewell (d. 1981), and his brother, Neil Roger Fewell (d. 1974). He is survived by his wife, Deborah Moore Fewell; his son Seth Alan Fewell and his wife, Angie; his daughter Alexis Fewell Hill, and her husband, Jon. He loved and was loved by his grandchildren: (Seth’s) Oliwier Marcin Owczarek, Gabriel Ryszard Kalina Fewell, Elżbieta Monika Fewell; (Alexis’) Abigail Lynn Reed, Deklen Paul Reed; (Angie’s) Amanda Garcia, Justin Castillo, and Andrew Castillo; (Jon’s) Drayden Hill, Kamren Gray-Hill.

Kent’s life was affected by Non-Hodgkin’s Mantle-Cell Lymphoma and the resulting complications. He contributed to the research surrounding the disease by participating in an experimental stem-cell transplant, with which he outlived all prognoses. In lieu of flowers, he would have loved to further the life-giving research through an “in memoriam” donation made in his name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at hhtps://donate.lls.org

A memorial service will be held in the chapel of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, 4600 S. Western St., in Amarillo TX at 2 PM on December 4, 2021. All who knew him are welcome.

Condolences may be left on Kenton Paul Fewell’s online guest book at on the Cox-Rowley Funeral Home website, at https://www.coxrowleyfuneralhome.com/listings.