Kenneth Spencer Bateman

Kenneth Spencer Bateman, 86, went home to be with the Lord on January 11, 2026. Ken was born on September 21,1939 in Cardwell, Missouri on the family farm. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Richardson Bateman, his parents (Roger and Gladys Bateman), and three remarkable sisters. He was a patriot and a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

One of Ken’s callings was to love his neighbor by providing quality building materials for his community. He started in sales with U.S. Plywood in St. Louis, MO during his senior year of high school and advanced to sales manager, branch manager, and ultimately area general manager with U.S. Plywood, Champion International, Georgia-Pacific, and Weyerhaeuser Corp in Charlotte, NC. 

He was a follower of Jesus Christ and his only comfort in life and death was that he was not his own but belonged—body and soul, in life and in death—to his faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who fully paid for his sins with his precious blood. Until he was unable to attend, he and his wife Patsey were active members of Center Grove Church in Clemmons, North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Patsey Simmons Bateman, three children, Steve Bateman (Lori), Sherry Bateman Sprecher (Bob), and Julie Bateman Rhoads (Paul), seven grandchildren, Josh Bateman (Whitney), Joy Bateman Conway (Sean), Olivia Sprecher, Jordan Sprecher, Jacob Rhoads, Annie Rhoads, Matt Rhoads, three great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A graveside service with the family will be held Wednesday, January 14 at Indian Grove Family Cemetery, Mount Airy, NC, the Rev. Steve Bateman of Decatur, Alabama officiating.

In lieu of flowers, in Ken’s memory, please support your local church and its Great Commission efforts.