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Kenneth Drinnon Obituary
South Knoxville, TN
Kenneth Cleveland Drinnon, age 92, of South Knoxville, passed away Tuesday January 3, 2017. He was a member and Deacon of New Hopewell Baptist Church, a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge, and retired from TVA Knoxville. Kenneth was a distinguished ball turret gunner, earning 2 air medals while serving in the Army Air Corps. He was a member of the 8th Air Force, 487th Bomb Group, stationed in England. He was honorably discharged at the end of WWII. He then pursued his education at both LMU and graduating from the University of Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Janis B. Drinnon; parents, Glen and Willie Mae Drinnon; brothers, Charles, Billy, Max, Tommy, and Guy Drinnon; sisters, Jean Thompson, and Peggy Southern. He is survived by his daughter, Dena Drinnon Foulk (David); grandchildren, Bethany Leatherwood (Brian), Jonathan Foulk (Brooke), Julia Wilson (Adam), Joshua and Sarah Leatherwood, Turner, Ellie, and Hadley Foulk, Rowan, Asher, and Gideon Wilson; brother, Bobby Drinnon (Faye); sisters, Mary Brumbaugh, Elizabeth Livesay, Thelma Newsome, Fay Bryant (John), Kay McGlaughlin (Phil); brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Don Southern, Sybil Drinnon, Vivian Drinnon, and Sue Drinnon; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 6:45 PM Friday, at New Hopewell Baptist Church. The funeral service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday, at New Hopewell Baptist Church, with Rev. Rick Loy officiating. Graveside service 11:30 AM Tuesday at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Seymour 122 Peacock Court, Seymour, TN 37865 (577-2807). Online condolences may be made at www.atchleyfuneralhome.com.
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Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Drinnon
Sponsored by Atchley Funeral Home - Seymour Memory Gardens.
3 Entries
Lee Haines
May 3, 2018
I met Mr Drinnon at a Veteran Day Ceremony at John Sevier Elementary back in 2016 where he told me the story of how he and 3 boyhood friends joined up to fight back in 1942. He was the only one of the 3 to survive the war. One friend was a PFC William Cavin who was killed in 1943 at the Battle of Tarawa and his remains were never found and how he never forgot about him. I told him that I had a friend who volunteered on a regular basis to go to Tarawa and look for remains and that I would reach out and see if he knew anything of the search. Well, PFC Cavin's remains have been found and they were officially identified on April, 23, 2018. I was hoping to get to tell Mr Drinnon of this good news, but I now know that he has already reunited with his friend. I only met Mr Drinnon once, but he made a life-long impact on me through his unwavering dedication to a lost friend and Marine. A truly remarkable man of our Greatest Generation.
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June Genthner
January 4, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers to all the family in this time of sorrow. My mother, Myrtle Hackney Lambert, used to send candy to Kenneth and his cousin Clifton during WWII.
Perry Austin, KPD Chaplain
January 4, 2017
May you be comforted during these days of grief by the wonderful memories of your relationship.
May you have a real sense of God's presence and love for you and all your family.
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