Kenneth C. Fannin, age 78, of Mount Gilead, died peacefully on Sunday evening, August 21, 2011, at the Whetstone Care Facility in Columbus, surrounded by his loved ones.
On January 29, 1933, Kenneth was born in Knob Branch, Kentucky, one of seven children of the late Emery and Maude (Sparks) Fannin. He was raised in the Portsmouth area, where he graduated from Portsmouth High School.
Shortly after graduation, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to be of service to his beloved country. He served as a mechanic, working on ground vehicles during the Korean Conflict. Upon his honorable discharge, Ken returned to Portsmouth, where he began serving in the Portsmouth Police Force and worked for them for over 10 years.
One evening while on patrol, Kenneth stopped for a meal and his waitress took his breath away. Turns out he met “the love of his life”, Ethel Henderson, that day at the restaurant. Shortly thereafter, Ken and Ethel were married on April 17, 1971, and quickly moved up to Morrow County for a job Ethel landed at the Morrow County Hospital. They shared over twenty one wonderful years together, until she preceded him in death on September 18, 1992. Kenneth was truly “crazy about Ethel” and after she passed away, “no one could live up to her” for him.
After moving to Morrow County, Ken found work at the Marion County Garage as a dump truck driver for over 10 years. Then, after living for three or so years in South Carolina for Ethel, he worked for Quikrete as a truck driver delivering their product to stores all over central Ohio. He enjoyed driving truck until he was 76 years old, yet he still wasn’t ready to give it up.
A man of faith, Kenneth was a member of the Mount Gilead Baptist Church.
Inheriting a love for music from his parents, Kenneth enjoyed playing the guitar nearly his entire life. He was more of a private musician, “playing more for his own amusement” than anything. He especially enjoyed playing blue grass, Spanish classical, and folk music. He was a great player but always teased the family that “he was better at picking his nose than he was at picking his guitar.”
In line with his fun loving and ornery personality, Ken was “all about” anything to do with farts. He loved a good fart joke, books about farts, and fart gadgets. Not only did he love fart gadgets though, he loved all gadgets and was “the poster boy for ‘as seen on tv’”, and he enjoyed using his metal detector even if it was just in his daughter’s living room.
While not much of a cook, Kenneth was famous for his potato salad, fudge and cookies, which his family will attest were “the best in the world.”
Kenneth will be dearly missed by his three children: Natalie (Justin Skeens) Ritchey, Michael Moore, both of Mount Gilead, and Paul Fannin of Columbus; five grandchildren: Chad (Leaha) Ritchey, Jason Ritchey, Kasey, Zachary, and Savannah Moore; four great-grandchildren: Katarina Burns, Zoe Nickels, Cheyanne and Jayden Ritchey; and countless nieces and nephews.
Including his wife and parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by his daughter, Taunye Lynn Moore; four brothers: Emery Jr., Ronald, Paul and Michael Fannin; and two sisters: Elaine Delves and Nellie Kidd.
His family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 25, 2011, at the Snyder Funeral Home, 76 S. Main St., Mount Gilead. Services honoring his life will also be held there on Friday at 10:00 a.m., with Rev. Lawrence Combs officiating. Graveside services with military honors will then be held at Greenlawn Cemetery in Portsmouth, Ohio, at 3:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Williams Syndrome Association, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to have been chosen to serve Kenneth’s family, and online condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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