Kenneth Allen Walters

Kenneth Allen Walters was born on July 12, 1939, in a small house in Aurora, MO to Leon and Cora Walters. He was their rainbow baby after two miscarriages and became the joy of their lives. As a boy, there was one thing that Kenneth loved best – getting into mischief. Whether it was skipping school, accidentally swearing in the school play, or getting into stick fights with the neighborhood bully, he was always into mischief!

As a teen, Kenneth and his mother began attending the Church of Christ in Monett, MO, and both were baptized, with his father being baptized the soon after. Kenneth loved the Lord and found great comfort and fellowship in members of the church everywhere he went throughout his life.

As Kenneth grew into a young man, he found that he also loved baseball, drag racing his car (as teenage boys do), and eventually, a young woman named Mary White of Purdy, MO. They married on March 22, 1959. Kenneth worked several jobs at different places such as Safeway, IGA, and the Ready-Mix plant, before joining the United States Air Force and being stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA. While living in California, Kenneth and Mary were blessed with two children, Richard Leon and Glenda Joyce.

After his service in the Air Force, they moved to Kansas City, and eventually to Tulsa, OK, where he worked as a Produce Manager for Consumers IGA for 17 years and then began working for Millstone Coffee as a salesman. He always smelled like a pot of fresh brewed coffee.

During this time in Kenneth's life, many joys and sorrows occurred. His children grew up, married, and began having children of their own. However, his wife Mary of 36 years, passed away due to cancer.

After a few years, he met Billie Chase while delivering coffee to a grocery store where she was managing the bakery. They married on April 18, 1999, and lived in Marionville, MO with Billie's daughter Angie, who Kenneth loved as his own. Billie opened Paradise Bakery in Monett, while Kenneth continued to sell coffee for Millstone. Eventually, they moved to Monett to be closer to the bakery and his mother since his father had passed a few years prior. Kenneth made the decision to retire from Millstone to help Billie in the business. They sold the bakery and opened a bistro called The Brown Bag, which sold in later years due to Kenneth's health.

Kenneth and Billie then began working at Camp Barnabas, a camp for special needs children. Kenneth worked to keep the grounds mowed and nice for the campers for about 8 years, where he was lovingly known as the "Man with the Pipe". In 2017, he made the decision to fully retire. He enjoyed sitting on his porch, smoking his pipe, and watching the world go by. He loved visiting with his neighbors, sharing stories about his grandkids and what Monett was like back in his childhood days.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Billie Walters, of the home; son Richard Walters of Tulsa, OK; daughter Glenda Bowen and husband Micheal, of Oklahoma City, OK; daughter Angie Anderson and husband Luke of Rolla, MO; grandchildren James Walters and wife Natalie, Madisyn Bowen, Connor Bowen, Becky Rhodes and husband Jake, Rylee Anderson, Chase Anderson, and great-granddaughter Joy Walters.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents Leon and Cora Walters and his first wife Mary Walters.

Kenneth will be missed dearly. He was loved by everyone that knew him. His humor was known by so many people, through his jokes and pranks that he pulled.

He was a proud veteran and a true servant of God!

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Buchanan Funeral Home with Deny Lemaster, Minister, officiating. Friends are invited for visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions have been suggested to Mt. Vernon Place Care Center. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett, MO.