Kenneth Raymond Smith, age 81, a resident of Portland, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Persimmon Ridge in Portland.
Kenneth was born October 9, 1939, in Muncie, Indiana, the son of Norman H. and Beatrice E. (Neeley) Smith. Kenneth married Kathryn Anne (Scholer) on April 13, 1963.
Kenneth graduated from Royerton High School in 1957, from Ball State Teachers College, which is now Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 1962 with a B.S. Degree and in 1970 with a M.A. Degree. He taught school in Geneva for 8 years and in Bryant for 1 year. He worked in the Clerk’s office at the Jay County Courthouse for 35 years. He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Portland.
When Kenneth was 15 years old, he received his amateur radio license. He talked fluently, sending Morse Code to countries all around the world, including Israel, and as far away as Antarctica in the South Pole.
He was an avid and accomplished cellist. He began taking cello lessons when he was 5 years old. Following each lesson, his teacher Carolyn Hubbard (who was also a Ball State Teacher) and her husband greatly inspired Kenneth with a cello and flute duet.
The cello is hand crafted from beautiful wood.
Kenneth has given cello lessons at Arts Place. He’s played for numerous plays at Bear Creek Farms and Arts Place. He’s played for recitals, churches, weddings and in nursing homes. He’s played solos, duets, trios and quartets. At home it was common for Kenneth to play his cello 3-4 hours in the evenings. He loved playing the cello and was always ready to perform at anyone’s request.
Kenneth wanted to go home.
Now he’s going to his heavenly home where he’ll be able to walk, play his cello, and do all the things he loves to do, forever, where we’ll all be together again, some day.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn, one brother, Harold Smith (wife Christine), Indianapolis, Indiana, one niece, Tammy Martin (husband Tony), Lebanon, Indiana, one nephew, Gregory Smith, Lexington, Kentucky.
Visitation for Kenneth Smith will be held Monday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland. Services to celebrate Kenneth’s life will follow at 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Pastor Darrel Weaver will officiate and burial will follow at Salamonia Cemetery in Salamonia, Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed towards Trinity United Methodist Church or Jay County Humane Society.
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