Harold Kenneth McLean

Harold Kenneth McLean, age 77, passed away on January 31, 2026, after a period of declining health. He leaves behind a family who loved him deeply, a lifetime of stories, and a legacy of laughter, intelligence, and the occasional perfectly timed one-liner or goofy face.

Kenneth was born on April 12, 1948, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to the late Flynn B. McLean and Margaret McLean. The third of five children, he spent much of his childhood on the move, traveling from Army base to Army base with his family—from Georgia to Okinawa, and most memorably Heidelberg, Germany. These early travels helped shape his lifelong curiosity about the world, rocks, art, animals, and just about everything else.

The family eventually returned to Charlotte, where Kenneth graduated from Myers Park High School in 1966. He went on to attend East Carolina University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1971, with a minor in Art—because rocks are fascinating, but you should always know how to draw them well. He later attended the University of Texas as a graduate student, working as a teaching assistant in the geology department, before settling in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he joined the TVA as a professional geologist.

When budget cuts reshaped his career, Kenneth did what he always did best: adapted, learned something new, and did it well. He returned to school to study computer programming, launching the second half of his working life. Because of his medical condition—and because his company so valued his skills and contributions—Kenneth was allowed to work from home long before it was fashionable. This arrangement eventually allowed him to move to Fort Mill, South Carolina, to be closer to family prior to his retirement—yet another example of his quiet ingenuity and resilience.

In later years, Kenneth was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder, a challenge that was both frustrating and deeply difficult. True to his nature, he met it with the same dry, capable wit he brought to everything else, rarely complaining and often finding humor even on the harder days. He leaned heavily on his family, especially his sister Marilyn, who faithfully visited him each Sunday to talk, reminisce, and watch old movies—quiet moments that meant more than words could say.

More than anything, Kenneth loved his family. He cherished time spent with his siblings, nieces, and nephews (many of whom inexplicably called him “Uncle GingGing,” a nickname he accepted without question or explanation). He delighted in family games of Charades and Trivial Pursuit, movie nights, and long conversations filled with stories, advice, and humor. His nieces and nephews fondly remember him as “the cool uncle”—the one they competed to sit next to or ride with on car trips to the beach. Kenneth had a quick, dry wit that often surfaced when you least expected it. On one memorable beach trip, the family gathered to watch the classic movie Jaws. After the infamous opening scene, while everyone else sat in stunned silence, Kenneth calmly asked if anyone was interested in going for a moonlit swim.

In his free time, Kenneth was a talented artist and frame builder, an avid hiker and birdwatcher, and a devoted cat companion over the years. Among his many pets, Everett the boa constrictor stands out as the most legendary and will forever hold a special place in McLean family lore. In later years, Kenneth enjoyed audiobooks and movies, especially The Lord of the Rings (both the novels and films) and the entire Harry Potter series—often revisited, never tired of, and always appreciated.

Kenneth is survived by his brother Barry (Janice) McLean, sister Marilyn McLean, and brother Byron (Betsy) McLean; his nephew Flynn (Claudine) McLean; nieces Melanie McLean and Mina (Scott) MacDonald; nephew Matthew (Vanessa) McLean; and great-nieces Meridith and Kathleen Chung, along with great-nephew Elliott MacDonald. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Randy McLean.

Kenneth will always be remembered for his intelligence, kindness, sincerity, a bit of stubbornness and wonderful sense of humor. His ability to pull a perfectly ridiculous face at just the right moment never failed to bring laughter to family gatherings—and probably always will.

A Celebration of Life will be held at McEwen Funeral Service - Pineville Chapel on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive visitors afterward at the home of Mina and Scott MacDonald.

As Kenneth once inscribed in a 1967 copy of The Return of the King: “May the rest of your days have the blessings of Galadriel, the wisdom of Gandalf the White, and remember always—Frodo Lives!”

In remembering Kenneth, the family invites you to honor him in the ways he loved best: share a handful of peanut M&M’s, put on some Creedence Clearwater Revival, and take a moment to watch the birds or enjoy the quiet beauty of nature—small pleasures that meant everything to him.