Obituary

Kenneth Kee Pollard died on Tuesday (Jan. 11, 2011) at Heritage Manor in Bethany.

Born on May 13, 1920, in Duncan, Okla., he was the son of Ammie Kee and Effie Luette Smith Pollard. Kenneth served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He graduated from Bethany Peniel College (SNU) in Bethany, Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City and Emporia State University. As an ordained minister, he served Nazarene churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas 20 years before moving to Bethany in 1978. He also worked as a mechanic, English teacher, librarian and U.S. Postal employee. He was a member of Bethany First Nazarene Church and OKC Organic Gardening Association.

Kenneth married Naomi Ruth Jantz of Newton on Jan. 1, 1948. He is survived by his wife of 63 years and their children, Ruth and David Nantze of Bethany, Janice Brown and Cliff Brown of Pratt, Karen and Dennis Vaverka of Olathe, Rebekah and David Fowler of Kingston, Mo., and Soni Lynes Velasquez and Justino of Emporia; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Jerald and Konnie Nantze, James Nantze, Andrew Nantze, Stephen and Regina Nantze Ketola, Matt and Amy Brown, Kyle and Laura Brown, Tony and Sabrina Davis, Chris and Lanita Davis and Joe Davis; nine great-grandchildren; cousins, Laura Akers of Duncan, Okla., and Edwin Smith of Florida; nephew, Louis Robison of Kileen, Texas; and niece, Kathryn Williamson of Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Gertrude Robison, John Lee Pollard and Helen Robison; nephew, Robert Pollard; and nieces, Sheila Womack and Eva Joyce Robison, all of Duncan, Okla.

The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bill Merritt Funeral Service in Bethany. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bethany First Nazarene Church. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Eastlawn Cemetery in Hesston. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the First Nazarene Church in Newton. Memorials may be made to Bethany First Nazarene Church for Mobile Meals or music ministries in care of the funeral home.