John Raymond Kenney Jr., a World War II veteran who founded Pasadena Furniture more than a half-century ago and built it into a thriving business, died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Thursday at his Pasadena home. He was 80.

With little formal schooling and $67 from an income tax refund, Mr. Kenney, who was known as Ray, started his own refrigeration repair business in 1950, later moving into appliance sales and finally creating what became a multimillion-dollar furniture business that is still in operation on Mountain Road.

"What he lacked in formal education, he made up in hard work and common sense," said his son, Ray Kenney of Severna Park. "He had an incredible feeling for business."

Raised in the Rosedale area, Mr. Kenney "barely made it past elementary school," and worked for his father in the wholesale produce business before serving in an Army combat engineering unit in Europe during World War II. His decorations included the Bronze Star.

By 1950, he decided it was time to go into business for himself, his son said. "He didn't like working for people. He didn't like being told what to do," he said. "He was a very independent individual."

While he waited for his tax refund to arrive, Mr. Kenney borrowed money from an uncle and bought tools. With his wife - the former Margaret R. Thiel, whom he married in 1942 - answering phones, he began his repair business.

Two years later, he moved into a storefront on Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena and added appliance sales. In 1954, he bought the land on Mountain Road that would become the site of Pasadena Furniture. The slogan of the business was "the solid wood people."

Starting as a two-person business - Mr. Kenney and his wife - in the family home, Pasadena Furniture now employs 29 in a 14,000-square-foot store, Mr. Kenney's son said.

Mr. Kenney, although ill for the past two years, remained active as president of the business - even delivering Christmas bonuses in person to employees the day before his death, said his son, who is the company's vice president and general manager.

Two of Mr. Kenney's grandchildren are involved in the business - one is a manager and the other works in the office part time.

Mr. Kenney had a can-do attitude, and was known for saying, "whatever it takes to make it happen," his son said.

"He didn't believe in insurmountable odds," the younger Mr. Kenney said. "I really believe that's why he fought this [illness] as many years as he did."

Mr. Kenney was known for always wearing a suit. If he came into work in casual clothing, it was usually because he planned to go fishing or flying - two of his passions, his son said.

A pilot for 30 years, Mr. Kenney owned a twin-engine Piper Aztec, which he sold shortly before he became ill.

Mr. Kenney was a meticulous pilot and an avid fisherman who would often go out on the water with his close friend Robert Baxter. The two met when their businesses were side by side on Mountain Road. Mr. Baxter, who has since retired, owned a drug store.

"I think of him as a very great individual," Mr. Baxter said. "He started practically with nothing and built it up to a very professional furniture business."

Services were held Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Glen Burnie, where Mr. Kenney was a member.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Kenney is survived by a daughter, Denise Kenney-Bartlett of Millersville; two sisters, Delores Drumgoole of Perry Hall and Eva Handlir of Middle River; and four grandchildren.