Kenneth Leroy Meek
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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He was born May 21, 1939, in Warsaw, to Charles E. and Rudelle J. Wiencken. In December 1962, he married Eleanor Thompson Williams.
After graduating from Warsaw High School, in which Kenneth, or “Kenny” as many referred to him, who was part of several local musical associations, he also provided his skills to the Tippy Dance Hall, in which he was the local favorite for “spinning” the music, or as it would be referred to today, the local favorite “DJ.” In 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, attending to his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He later was transferred to station at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. After his primary military service was completed he and family moved back to Warsaw, he began working for R.R. Donnelly and Sons. In the late ’60s to early ’70s, he relocated to Florida embarking on several careers, one in which lead him to become a crew member for the 53rd weather recon squadron chasing hurricanes. This experience then led him to an entry position within Military Sealift Command, which is where Kenneth spent the rest of his professional career of more than 35 years. During his Military SeaLift Command career, he was present and part to many military/government operations around the world for intelligence recovery and archival efforts. He was present and part to the initial Kennedy Space Shuttle vehicle trajectory tests and booster rocket recovery. Throughout his career on board the various vessels, he circumvented the earth more than three times in continuous deployment and received citation for each time.
Throughout his life he was a very compassionate human being to the planet and to people’s needs, from someone needing a car, to someone needing a final resting place, or to someone needing to pay that past due bill - it really didn't matter if you were family or that friendly neighbor down the street; he was a continuous charitable donator to many organizations, St. Judes being one, PETA being another, but for the entire listing there is simply not enough space to share, but in short; if there was a charity to help and or assist children in need, our planet’s animal populations, and or; our most needy in this world - surely Kenneth Leroy Meek was a part to that assistance.
He was also quite interested in history, mostly family ancestral through which and with discovery with his elder brother Joseph E. Sr. discovered many associations of the Meek family line from the time the Meek family arrived in the United States from the homeland of Scotland. From this recognition and interest he then rejoined the Meek family to the Clan MacDuff of Scotland and became a member of the Scottish American Society, and when opportunity presented itself attended many Scottish Highland events and functions; as well instilled a great sense of heritage belonging to his son and family.
He officially retired in 2009, and while at his place of residence in Orlando, he was consumed by a promise that he had made to his mother many years prior - to enter into and become a Mason. He kept this promise with much vigor, and to the surprise of many actually completed in short time all steps within and beyond standard among others; the Masonic requirements to 32 degree Scottish Rite as well as 32 degree York Rite.
Surviving siblings are Nora A. Taylor, Orlando, Fla., and Patricia A. Miller, Panama City, Fla.; a son, Christopher Marcus Scott (and spouse Merae Denise) Meek, Leesburg and Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter, Lori Ann Moore, Silver Lake; 11 grandchildren: Joshua Leroy Ryan Meek, Brittney Nicole Meek, Courtney Danielle Meek and Chazten Miles Scott Meek; Jakayla Lynn Snodgrass and Derek Allen Snodgrass; Ryan Paul Schultz and Rachael Marie Schultz; Nicholas Ryan Bailey; Dana Aubrey Waite; and Shawn Allen Vance; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles E. Meek, who died Jan. 1, 1965; his mother, Rudelle J. Meek, who died May 15, 1987; and siblings, Dorothy Jean Keim, who died Feb. 14, 1998, and Joseph E. Meek Sr., who died Oct. 10, 2006.
A private memorial service was at the Orlando Masonic 69 Lodge June 1. The eulogy was provided by Pastor Pat Leverington of Melbourne, Fla., previously the pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Orlando where Kenneth accepted the Lord as his savior; followed by his Masonic brothers providing the ceremony of passing; followed by Patrick Air Force Honor Guard flag memoriam and presentation. The service was preceded and concluded with the traditional bagpipes “in” and “Amazing Grace” being piped out provided by fellow Scottish American Society member Dennis Barr.[[In-content Ad]]
He was born May 21, 1939, in Warsaw, to Charles E. and Rudelle J. Wiencken. In December 1962, he married Eleanor Thompson Williams.
After graduating from Warsaw High School, in which Kenneth, or “Kenny” as many referred to him, who was part of several local musical associations, he also provided his skills to the Tippy Dance Hall, in which he was the local favorite for “spinning” the music, or as it would be referred to today, the local favorite “DJ.” In 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, attending to his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He later was transferred to station at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. After his primary military service was completed he and family moved back to Warsaw, he began working for R.R. Donnelly and Sons. In the late ’60s to early ’70s, he relocated to Florida embarking on several careers, one in which lead him to become a crew member for the 53rd weather recon squadron chasing hurricanes. This experience then led him to an entry position within Military Sealift Command, which is where Kenneth spent the rest of his professional career of more than 35 years. During his Military SeaLift Command career, he was present and part to many military/government operations around the world for intelligence recovery and archival efforts. He was present and part to the initial Kennedy Space Shuttle vehicle trajectory tests and booster rocket recovery. Throughout his career on board the various vessels, he circumvented the earth more than three times in continuous deployment and received citation for each time.
Throughout his life he was a very compassionate human being to the planet and to people’s needs, from someone needing a car, to someone needing a final resting place, or to someone needing to pay that past due bill - it really didn't matter if you were family or that friendly neighbor down the street; he was a continuous charitable donator to many organizations, St. Judes being one, PETA being another, but for the entire listing there is simply not enough space to share, but in short; if there was a charity to help and or assist children in need, our planet’s animal populations, and or; our most needy in this world - surely Kenneth Leroy Meek was a part to that assistance.
He was also quite interested in history, mostly family ancestral through which and with discovery with his elder brother Joseph E. Sr. discovered many associations of the Meek family line from the time the Meek family arrived in the United States from the homeland of Scotland. From this recognition and interest he then rejoined the Meek family to the Clan MacDuff of Scotland and became a member of the Scottish American Society, and when opportunity presented itself attended many Scottish Highland events and functions; as well instilled a great sense of heritage belonging to his son and family.
He officially retired in 2009, and while at his place of residence in Orlando, he was consumed by a promise that he had made to his mother many years prior - to enter into and become a Mason. He kept this promise with much vigor, and to the surprise of many actually completed in short time all steps within and beyond standard among others; the Masonic requirements to 32 degree Scottish Rite as well as 32 degree York Rite.
Surviving siblings are Nora A. Taylor, Orlando, Fla., and Patricia A. Miller, Panama City, Fla.; a son, Christopher Marcus Scott (and spouse Merae Denise) Meek, Leesburg and Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter, Lori Ann Moore, Silver Lake; 11 grandchildren: Joshua Leroy Ryan Meek, Brittney Nicole Meek, Courtney Danielle Meek and Chazten Miles Scott Meek; Jakayla Lynn Snodgrass and Derek Allen Snodgrass; Ryan Paul Schultz and Rachael Marie Schultz; Nicholas Ryan Bailey; Dana Aubrey Waite; and Shawn Allen Vance; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles E. Meek, who died Jan. 1, 1965; his mother, Rudelle J. Meek, who died May 15, 1987; and siblings, Dorothy Jean Keim, who died Feb. 14, 1998, and Joseph E. Meek Sr., who died Oct. 10, 2006.
A private memorial service was at the Orlando Masonic 69 Lodge June 1. The eulogy was provided by Pastor Pat Leverington of Melbourne, Fla., previously the pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Orlando where Kenneth accepted the Lord as his savior; followed by his Masonic brothers providing the ceremony of passing; followed by Patrick Air Force Honor Guard flag memoriam and presentation. The service was preceded and concluded with the traditional bagpipes “in” and “Amazing Grace” being piped out provided by fellow Scottish American Society member Dennis Barr.[[In-content Ad]]
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