Kenneth Garth Cobb

Kenneth Garth Cobb was born on May 9, 1941 in Barbourville. He slipped his earthly tethers on Sunday evening, August 10, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and peacefully at home.
He was preceded in death by his loving father and mother, Joseph Glendale and Lena Myrtle Tedders Cobb, as well as his lifelong best friend, Larry Hammons and a host of other dear friends.
Kenneth was of the Baptist faith and enrolled as a member at the Northside Baptist Church. He had a servant's heart, and wherever there was someone or something that needed to be done in Barbourville, he was there to help. Kenneth spent roughly 20 years on the Barbourville Cemetery Board, where he would speak at Memorial Day services, which he held as a solemn honor. Kenneth also spent numerous years on the Knox County Library Board, where he helped ensure that Knox Countians would always have a public library they could be proud of. He proudly served in the Kentucky National Guard for 35 years, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. In his free time, he could often be found at the TVA catching up with old friends and reminiscing about the good old days. Kenneth served the Commonwealth of Kentucky dutifully and faithfully for 40 years at the Department of Community Based Services. He took great pride in assisting vulnerable members of Kentucky's population in any way he could, often coming to visit after his retirement. Kenneth's most treasured position, besides being a father, was his service to the staff and students of Barbourville Independent School, where he served on the Board of Education from 1993 to 2016. Kenneth's pride and care can still be felt on School Street with the educators and students who walk the halls today. He took great joy and pride that his jersey was retired for the Barbourville Boys' Basketball Team. In his later years, Kenneth had immense satisfaction in his growing collection of coins and paper money.
Left to mourn the passing of Kenneth is his wife of over 58 loving years, Phyllis Sue Cobb; sisters, Nancella Cobb of Barbourville and Wanda Cobb McDaniel and husband, Jim, of Pearisburg, VA; his daughters, Sheila Cobb Canady and husband, Jeff, of Corbin, Monica Leigh Mefford and husband, Mark, of Corbin and Nancy Catherine Gray and husband, James "Toby", of Barbourville; a niece, Samantha Grice and husband, Robert, of Pearisburg, VA; grandchildren, William Jared Brewer and wife, Kristen Stockdale, of Durham, NC, Jordyn Maranda Lawson and husband, Zach, of London, Ella Elizabeth Marie Gray and Kenneth Garth Cobb Gray both of Barbourville, Jeffrey Canady and wife, Brooke, of Richmond and Hayden Canady and Loren Bingham of Corbin; great grandchildren, Hardin Lawson of London, Tripp and Truett Canady of Richmond and a great nephew, Liam Grice of Pearisburg, VA.
His funeral service will be conducted in the chapel of the Knox Funeral Home Saturday, August 16 at 4 P.M. Rev. Russell Jones officiating. Military funeral honors will be given following the service.
Serving as honorary bearers will be James "Toby" Gray, Kenneth Garth Cobb Gray, Jared Brewer, Jeffrey Canady, Jeff Canady, Hayden Canady, Jared Ledington, Jacob House and Mark Mefford.
Kenneth's family would like to formally thank Barbourville ARH, Knox County EMS, Grace Health – Dr. Fugate's office and staff and Bluegrass Care Navigators for the grace and care provided in treating him with respect and dignity during his final season of life. Additionally, his family would like to offer heartfelt thanks to Jared Ledington of Forcht Bank and Jacob House of Commercial Bank, as well as all of their coworkers, for becoming more like family to Kenneth that service providers through years of allowing him the pleasure of finding new coins to look at.
Friends may visit at the funeral home Saturday after 2 P.M. until the funeral hour.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home. Send a condolence to the family of KENNETH GARTH COBB.
For questions about our obituaries or condolence service, please contact us. You may reach us via e-mail at knoxfuneralhome@barbourville.com. Reach us via phone by calling 606-546-2222.