Kenneth Jowell

May 27, 1926 - Sept. 4, 2010

Kenneth Jowell, 84, long-time song leader for the Lassen Street Church of Christ in Vallejo, and Vallejo resident, died Saturday, Sept. 4, at his care home from complications brought on by diabetes.

A native of Greenway, Arkansas, he served in the U.S. Navy for four years shortly after World War II. Following military service, he graduated from the University of Arkansas and dental college in St. Louis, Missouri. He then practiced dentistry for 10 years in Memphis, TN.

In 1960, he sold his practice and moved to San Francisco, where he worked for several employment agencies, followed by the McCullough Chain Saw Company. When that office closed, he joined the Drew Preparatory School in San Francisco as administrative assistant and part-time instructor until his retirement several years ago.

Kenneth was beloved by hundreds of Drew School students and their families, for whom he was a caring, thoughtful mentor and friend. In his honor Drew School started the Mr. Jowell Scholarship Fund, enabling many students to attend Drew as Jowell Scholars. That fund will keep his memory alive at his San Francisco "home." On at least two occasions the annual yearbook was dedicated to Mr. Jowell. One spring the students took up a secret fund and bought Mr. Jowell a round-trip airline ticket to anywhere he wanted to go, only to have him say "thank you, but I have no other place than Drew that I'd rather be." He was sought out by many students due to his massive knowledge of many subjects and his story-telling ability, which caused him to be dubbed "The Raconteur of Drew School."

As a song leader, he led for a number of large Church of Christ congregations, including Getwell and Dunn in Memphis and Golden Gate in San Francisco. He was invited to become the song leader at Lassen Street Church of Christ in Vallejo and served in that capacity for 42 years until his health declined and he had to step down. Every time the congregation got a new song book, he insisted that everyone learn every new song in the book and was adept at teaching acappella music utilizing shape notes.

He taught an adult Bible class at Lassen Street for many years and had a vast knowledge of both the Old and New Testaments. He was familiar with the works of many famous authors and had a scholar's knowledge of the Civil War.

He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Flossie Jowell, and an older sister, Gwen. He is survived by two nieces and a nephew residing in the East.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Lassen Street Church of Christ, 1109 Lassen Street, Vallejo, with Ministers Stan Williams and Fred Burrows officiating. Inurnment will be at the Dixon Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Skyview Funeral Home.