Deacon Kenneth Edward Stroud, 95, of Southbury, and previously of Newtown, died peacefully on June 3 at his home in Heritage Crest, surrounded by his loving family. He would have been 96 years old on his next birthday in July. He was born and raised in southern England, and was the son of a village policeman and housewife, Thomas and Edith Stroud.Prisoner of War Number 2378, written in collaboration with his son Adrian Stroud.www.regionalhospicect.org.www.honanfh.com.www.newtownbee.com/veterans-recall-the-end-of-the-war-in-europe and www.newtownbee.com/sons-book-shares-deacons-wwii-pow-experience

Baptized an Anglican, he converted to Catholicism after marrying his wife, Mary Patricia Mason, which began a lifelong devotion to the Church. While living in New Jersey, post-Vatican II, the diaconate was created by Pope John XXIII and he enrolled in one of the first diaconate classes in the Archdiocese of Newark. He first served at St Luke's parish in Waldwick, N.J., and later, until his retirement, at St Rose of Lima in Newtown. He performed hundreds of baptisms and weddings, including those of his children and grandchildren.

Mr Stroud sang in the St Rose choir along with his wife and as a team. Post-retirement from ITT, they began their ministry to the sick and elderly by volunteering with Hospice and Meals On Wheels, while Mr Stroud stepped up his duties as deacon. He retired as deacon at St Rose a few years ago and was named deacon emeritus by William Lori, Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bridgeport. He continued as a member of the choir until his recent illness

Mr Stroud was a gifted musician and scholar, winning many school prizes and playing the church organ, even when his feet could barely reach the pedals. In 1940, he enlisted in the RAF and was sent to serve in the Far East to set up radar facilities for the British. He was captured soon after arriving and held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in Java for more than three years. The account of his ordeal was published in a book,

Once repatriated, Mr Stroud returned to Weymouth, England, to work with the General Post Office as a telephone lineman. Here is where he met his future bride, Mary Patricia Mason, "Pat" to her friends and family. Married in 1947, the couple set off on an adventure that would take them to Canada, on into the United States by way of New England, then North Carolina, then New Jersey before ending up in Newtown.

An electrical engineer by profession, he spent his career in telephony and satellite communications, and he holds a valuable patent that revolutionized how we communicate today.

His beloved wife died in 2004. Deacon Stroud is survived by his five children and their spouses, Susan Stroud of Maryland; Dominic Stroud of Texas; Adrian and Laura Stroud of Florida; Clare and Charles "Bucky"Joaquin of New Jersey; and Simon and Linda Lee Stroud of North Carolina. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren, as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

His elder brother, Reginald Stroud, predeceased him, as did his daughter-in-law Joy Stroud.

Friends may attend calling hours to be held at St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown on Wednesday, June 8, from 4 to 9 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon on Thursday, June 9, in St Rose of Lima Church. Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor, will be the homilist. Interment will follow in St Rose Cemetery, Sandy Hook.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury CT 06810 or

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. To leave an online condolence visit

To learn more about Kenneth Stroud's experience as a war veteran, visit