Kenneth Gregory Becknell

Kenneth Gregory Becknell, 65, of Rock Hill SC, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on November 22, 2025, after a brief battle against pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded and held in comfort by his loving family.

Ken was born in Chapel Hill, N.C., the son of Robert Miller Becknell and Adeline Moore. He graduated from Page High School in Greensboro, N.C., and earned a business degree from UNC-Pembroke. He was an account manager in commercial construction materials for nearly 30 years, most recently for White Cap.

Ken was a talented golfer who played in a regular foursome most Saturdays and golfed in numerous business and charity tournaments. He enjoyed annual fishing trips to Canada with family and friends. Over the years, he and his wife and family had embarked on adventure vacations to Acadia, Zion, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon and Glacier national parks, Sedona, Ariz., Nashville and other places.

He was a 30-year member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, where Ken served as chairman and a member of the board of trustees for many years. He coached St. John's youth basketball teams and volunteered as an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 391 in Rock Hill.

Ken had many interests and hobbies. He spent free time working in his yard, hiking and being outdoors, collecting coins, knives and other curious historic artifacts and playing with his two Boykin Spaniels, Macy and Sadie. He enjoyed grilling meat and seafood, smoking barbecue and cheering on the UNC Tarheel basketball team.

Ken is remembered by those who knew and loved him for his devotion to his family, his generous, giving nature, his thriving sense of humor and his optimistic outlook on life. He often called himself "a glass half full kind of guy."

Ken will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his father, a brother Robert Becknell Jr., and a sister, Julie Curry.

Left behind to honor Ken's memory are his beloved wife of 37 years, Jennifer Becknell; son, Ryan Becknell of York SC; daughter, Kelsey (Robby) Barr of Pendleton, SC.; his mother and a brother, Walter Becknell, both of Greensboro; sister, Amy Rose of Overland Park, Kan., his aunt, Lou Davis of Greenville, N.C.; and his nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 13 at St. John's UMC, 321 S. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill. It will be followed by visitation in the St. John's Center.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church, 321 S. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill SC 29730.