Kenneth Eules Whisenant

Kenneth Eules Whisenant, 69, a resident of Pomona Park, Fla., died from terminal cancers and heart attack on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Putman Medical Center Hospital. For several years, Kenneth had suffered from coronary artery disease and multi cancers plus had been in and out of the hospital for several months.

Kenneth was born on June 26, 1943, to Wilburn L. Whisenant and Oma Lee Walker Whisenant in Gadsden, Ala. He graduated from Emma Samson High School in Gadsden in 1961. Kenneth enrolled in Alabama Technical College in 1961, working toward a degree in mechanical engineering. He was one semester away from his degree. He married Betty Sue Knight on Sept. 23, 1966, in Gadsden, Alabama. They have been married for over 47 years. Mr. Whisenant worked for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber in the tire department where he worked for 32 years. Mr. Whisenant retired in 1995 then moved to Pomona Park, Fla., due to health reasons. Kenneth joined the Air Force in 1966 and served for two years. He served during the Vietnam War and was the recipient of awards. He was honorably discharged in 1968, achieving the rank of Sergeant.

Kenneth was preceded in death by Wilburn L. Whisenant and Oma Lee Walker Whisenant.

Mr. Whisenant is survived by his wife, Betty; two daughters, Tina Michelle Hyatt Baker (Robert), Interlachen, Fla., and Melissa Renae Whisenant Link (Sergeant First Class Paul), Fort George Meade, Md.; as well as four grandchildren, James "JD" David Hyatt III (Florida), Vincent Paul Link (Maryland), Victor Evan Link (Kansas), Nicole Renae Baker (Florida); one step-grandchild; and eight step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Village Chapel Funeral Home, 101 Vandell Blvd., Gadsden, AL 35904. Family will receive friends two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow at Rainbow Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rainbow City, Ala. A memorial will be held at Mount Carmel Baptist Church at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2013. The family will be greeting friends and relatives. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Bank of America, Attn: Betty Whisenant.

To say our dad will be truly missed would be an understatement. He gave when he didn't have anything to give, defended the underdogs, working his fingers to the bone for his family, and loved unconditionally. He was a strong man with old Southern values, a heart of gold and unique sense of humor that was his own. Needless to say, our dad was one of kind; he was deeply loved and will be missed by many. Love, Michelle and Melissa.

Published in The Gadsden Times on April 26, 2013