Kenneth Harwell

Reverend Kenneth Buchanan Harwell, age 87 passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 28, 2021 in Fresno, CA. Kenneth was born as the youngest child in a family of ten, August 18, 1934 in Buckeye, Arizona to parents Nancy L. Harwell and Fred C. Harwell, of Arkansas.

Kenneth grew up in Bakersfield, CA. As a young boy he loved to ride his horses, hang out with his older brothers, and when most of them went to serve in WWII, he was granted his driver's license at age twelve (after a successful petition of his mother). This would be the start of his life-long love affair with cars.

As a teenager, he would keep the roads hot between Bakersfield and Tulare to visit his teenage sweetheart he met at a Free-Methodist Camp Meeting, Glenda Carolyn Donaldson. Shortly later, the two teenage lovebirds happily married in a modest wedding ceremony held in their family home.

Kenneth and Carol would go on to start a young beautiful family of three children, Cheri, Steve, and Leasa. As a young family they went on several adventures and their lives were the fulfillment of the Johnny Cash song, "I've been everywhere man." They had fun-filled moments spent with their close friends at Honkey-tonks, Rodeos, County Western Music Studios, the beach, and anywhere he could race for "pinks."

Kenneth would say the greatest adventure of his life began the moment he and his wife found Jesus. From that moment on, his life would never be the same. He often said "If I ever go to church, I want to go to my friend, Lou Brown's church. He's a real Christian." The first night he visited Lou Brown's church, a Pentecost Holiness church, Kenneth and his wife were gloriously saved, and instantly baptized in the Holy Ghost. Later, the two answered the call of God on their lives, and entered a life in ministry. He learned to preach in jails and on street-corners. From a series of God-led connections, he found his way to the Church of God, and became an Ordained Bishop. He served his church in various roles and capacities including Pastor, Missionary, Evangelist, and Regional Overseer. He had a love for all people, and loved to preach the gospel. A favorite quote he employed to describe his experience in faith was "When you're born in the fire, you can't survive in the smoke." And that definitely was his approach to life in all things. The word mediocre did not exist his universe. He always gave everything his best, and never settled for any less. Even in his later years he never stopped preaching, but he often preached in different settings. Instead of behind the pulpit, he would preach at fast-food restaurants, grocery stores, car washes, and anywhere he would get a chance to share with someone about Jesus.

Ken's greatest and most successful achievement was his family. Nothing was more important to him than his beloved wife, and his children. He retired multiple times, often in his prime when churches would continue to seek his leadership, because he and his wife desired to be as close as they could to their kids and grandkids. They believed in the strong bond of family. They always put their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren above themselves. Ken was a giver. If he had it, he would give it, freely, with his whole heart. His wife battled in the latter years of her life with Alzheimer's disease. Kenneth would spend years going every day from 6am to 10pm to the care facility where she spent her final days. He never left her side. He suffered the greatest loss of his life, when his life-long beautiful bride passed away. Every day since that moment, his heart has longed for the day when they would reunite. On Saturday night, August 28, 2021, the Lord Jesus Christ answered Ken's final prayer here on Earth when he uttered his last words to his grandson Michael, "Son, I want to go home to heaven." He will be greatly missed by all, but the world is a much better place because of him and his legacy of love.

Kenneth is survived by his daughter Cheryl Harwell Bailey (Randall Bailey); his son Kenneth Stephen Harwell (Veronica Harwell); and his daughter Leasa Harwell Quillen (Mel Quillen); his brother-in-law Kerry Donaldson (Phyllis Donaldson); his granddaughter Kendra Collins (Sterling Collins), his grandson Roy Hill (Romika Hill), his grandson Kenny Hill (Elaina Hill), his granddaughter Jessica Sanderson (Conor Sanderson), his grandson Michael Harwell (Bethany Harwell), his granddaughter Meaghan Quillen, his grandson Ben Quillen, his great-grandson Conner Gerry (Erika Gerry), his great-granddaughter Brittany Hill, his great-grandson Cameron Hill, his great-grandson Cody Johnson, his great-granddaughter Alyssa Pray, his great-grandson Caeden Collins, his great-grandson Ben Collins, his great-granddaughter Cailyn Sanderson, his great-granddaughter Harper Sanderson, his great-grandson Levi Harwell, his great-granddaughter Alissandra Harwell, his great-grandson Tommy Harwell, great-granddaughter Riley Sandoval, great-granddaughter Audrey Sandoval, great-grandson KJ Hill, great-grandson Church Hill, great-grandson Ebby Hill, great-grandson Kohen Hill, great-granddaughter Abby Hill and his baby, Old Blue (1964 Cadillac Coupe DeVille).

Kenneth was preceded in death by his precious wife Glenda Carolyn Harwell; his father Fred C. Harwell; his mother Nancy L. Harwell; his father-in-law Grover Donaldson and his mother-in-law Vivian Donaldson; his sister Mary Harwell; his brother Fred Harwell (Lola Harwell); his sister Juanita Carlson (Verner Carlson); his brother Wallace Harwell (Lois Harwell); his brother Cecil Harwell (Anita Harwell); his brother David Harwell (Betty Harwell); his brother Paul Harwell; his brother Otis Harwell (Laverne Hunt); his brother Harold Gene Harwell (Mary Harwell); his sister-in-law Benny Ruth McGill (Theo "Mac") and his brother-in-law Cordell Donaldson (Delia Donaldson); and his beloved infant granddaughter Angel Bailey.

A Celebration of Life for Kenneth will be held Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Rains Chapel - Church of God Ministry Center, 6901 N. Maple Ave., Fresno, CA 93710. A private Graveside Service will occur at a later date at Mt. Olive Church of God Cemetery, Cleveland, TN.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Kenneth's memory may be made to Church of God Ministry to Israel, ministrytoisrael.com.

There is so much more that could be beautifully said, but writing an obituary for your Papaw is a hard thing to do. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy are invited to be shared by all friends and family at www.whitehurstsullivan.com.