Kenneth Leroy Meek, 72, of 5553 Marlin Drive, Orlando, Fla., passed away May 29, 2011, in the ICU at Orlando Regional Medical Center. He had multiple organ failure due to Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia complications. He was born May 21, 1939, in Warsaw, to Charles E. and Rudelle J. Wiencken Meek. In December 1962, he married Eleanor Thompson Williams. After graduating from Warsaw High School, he was part of several local musical associations; he also provided his skills to the Tippy Dance Hall. In 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, attending basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He then was transferred to station at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. After his primary military service was completed, he and his family moved back to Warsaw, and he began working for R.R. Donnelly and Sons. In the late 60’s early 70’s, he relocated to Florida embarking on several careers, one in which was to become a crew member for the 53rd weather recon squadron chasing hurricanes. This then lead him to a entry position within Military Sealift Command which is where he spent the rest of his professional career for 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 part of 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. He officially retired in 2009 and while in Orlando, Fla, he become a Mason. He did this with 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 are siblings, 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, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Joshua Leroy Ryan, Brittney Nicole, Courtney Danielle and Chazten Miles Scott Meek, Jakayla Lynn and Derek Allen Snodgrass, Ryan Paul 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 parents, Charles E. Meek, who died Jan. 1 1965, and 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 June 1 at Orlando Masonic 69 Lodge, eulogy 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. Following, 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 provided by fellow Scottish American Society member Dennis Barr.
