Kenneth Stophel

Kenneth "Wayne" Stophel BRISTOL, Tenn. Kenneth "Wayne" Stophel, age 81, passed away on Jan. 3, 2012. He was born in Bristol to the late Dallas O. Stophel and Thelma Jones Stophel. Wayne retired honorably from the U.S. Air Force where he served in a number of security roles and was as a presidential guard for Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson. He also later retired from the United States Postal Service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Ruth Stophel and his son, Kenneth Wayne Stophel Jr. Survivors include his partner, Jan Williams; brothers, Dallas "Junior" Stophel and wife, Faye, Bennie Stophel and wife, Carolyn; children, Nancy Downs and husband, Earl, Cheryl Burge and husband, Kim, and Steve Stophel and wife, Elena, and, Jan's family Cathy, Rick, Morgan, and Jordan Armstrong, Cyndi Thomas and her daughter, McKinnley Thomas-Marsh; grandchildren, Kim Shovlain, Amy Ford, Jay Downs, Marissa Burge, Matthew Wayne, Charlotte, Benjamin Stophel; Katie, and Steven Sagona-Stophel; and many great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. at Morning View Cemetery, Bluff City. Military honors will be presented by the Bristol VFW Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund or the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be registered at www.Weaverfuneralhome.net Arrangements have been made with Weaver Funeral Home and Cremation Services.