Kenneth L. Carvell, 96, of Morgantown, passed away peacefully Sept. 24, 2021, in Mon Health Medical Center.
He was born May 1, 1925, in North Andover Mass., the son of the late Reverend Clinton W. and Helen Scoby Carvell.
Kenneth served his country in the 29th Infantry Division in the European Theater from 1943-1946 receiving both a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
He returned home to continue his education, earning his Bachelor of Arts in botany from Harvard, his Master of Forestry in forestry management from Yale and his doctorate in forest ecology from Duke. He joined the West Virginia Division of Forestry in 1953, where he taught until retirement in 1988 as professor emeritus of forest ecology.
While at WVU, he earned numerous honors, including being elected a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters and in the Danforth Association. He received the Order of the Vandalia and the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the WVU Division of Forestry. His students were and still are part of his family.
Kenneth was very active in many community organizations, including the Izaak Walton League, Monongalia County Historical Society and the Nature Conservancy. He served on the Morgantown City Council before moving to the Cheat Area in 1967. He and his wife received the 2011 Senior Citizens of the Year award from the Celebration of America Committee for their efforts to record and preserve the history of Monongalia County. He was a frequent contributor to the “Wonderful West Virginia” magazine, and taught several classes for Lifetime Learners.
He was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church while his health allowed.
He married Elsie Scott in 1959, who died in January of 2018.
Surviving are his two children, W. Louise Sweeney (John), of Waynesburg, Pa., and Glenn A. (Kelly) Carvell, of Acworth, Ga.; two grandchildren, Hillary L. (Jason) Shipkowski, of Pittsburgh, and Ian K. (Alexandra) Sweeney, of Cabot, Ark.; and four great-grandchildren, Easton and Imrich Shipkowski and Logan and Luke Sweeney. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank Carvell and Richard Carvell and a sister: Virginia Honig.
The family would like to thank the staff at Heritage Point and Mon Health Medical Center for the care and love they showed toward our father.
The family is suggesting that gifts in his memory can be made to the Dr. Kenneth L. Carvell Graduate Fellowship (Fund number 3Z400) at WVU Foundation.
To give online, visit secure.give.wvu.edu/give and specify designation using the information above.
A date for a memorial service has not been set and will be announced at a later time.
