Kenneth Hoyt Lautzenheiser

Kenneth Hoyt Lautzenheiser passed away on Sunday, November 23, at the age of 85, with his family by his side. Ken was born in Chattanooga, TN, on November 18, 1940, to Clarence William and Lucy Marlowe Lautzenheiser. As a member of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, he met Loretta Ettien, whom he later described as singing "like an angel" in the choir.

Ken was a standout football player at Rossville High School in Georgia, earning All-State honors and a scholarship to the University of Tennessee. After two years in Knoxville, he returned home to complete his studies, earning a degree in Chemistry from the University of Chattanooga and receiving a commission into the U.S. Army. During this time, he fell in love with Loretta, and they soon began their life together. They were married on November 19, 1963, and honeymooned on their way to his duty station in Porter, Indiana, at a Nike-Hercules Air Defense site.

Ken discovered his true calling as a father when daughter Anne Todd was born. He left active duty and moved his family to Tamaqua, PA, where he worked for Atlas Chemical making dynamite and nitro glycerin. One of his duties was to sound the alarm if there was an issue, but his colleagues were worried that with his slower southern accent and laid back demeanor, the plant would blow up before he could get the word out. He completed his Army service as a Captain in the reserves. Ken and Loretta enjoyed their years in the snowy north as active members of the Jaycees, where Ken was elected to the JCI Senate for his work cleaning up the Panther River. Their family became complete when son Eric Wade was born, and soon after, they made the decision to return home to Tennessee to be closer to extended family and teach their children to say y'all.

Ken worked for Cutter Laboratories in Chattanooga while raising his family and passing down his love of football to his son. After 12 years, he moved his family to Tarboro, NC, to join Carolina Enterprises as the manager and chemist of the button plant. He loved watching his son excel in football-cheering and coaching him through Tarboro's first state championship and later supporting his collegiate career at the U.S. Naval Academy and Western Carolina University.

Ken enjoyed sharing stories with his daughter Anne about her work as an engineer developing night vision systems for the military and their time at the University of Tennessee cheering on the Volunteers.

As a lifelong lover of history, Ken played a key role in the creation of the Edgecombe Veterans Museum, coordinated regular memorial services, and wrote monthly articles on local veterans for the Tarboro Magazine. Ken was overjoyed to welcome another daughter into his life when Eric married Anna Hamilton, and even more delighted to become "Granddad" to Joshua Blake and Elijah Chase. He finished his working career side by side with Loretta as office manager in her firm, Coastal Carolina Research.

Ken was an active member of Calvary Episcopal Church, a devoted volunteer at Fort Branch, and a friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Loretta; his children Anne (Greg) and Eric (Anna); and his grandchildren, Josh and Eli-who will all miss him terribly.

A funeral service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church in Tarboro, NC on Dec 6 at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Edgecombe County Veterans' Military Museum.