OBITUARY
Kenneth Glen Gillis
March 28, 1939 – February 20, 2021
Kenneth Glen Gillis, 81, passed away Saturday morning, February 20, 2021.
Born March 28, 1939 at Fort Bragg, NC, he was a son of the late Glen and Thelma Jones Gillis.
Ken graduated from Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1957. Active in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), he received a citation for outstanding cadet during a summer training program. He started his higher education at Cameron College in Lawton in 1957. That educational pursuit was interrupted following a back injury requiring surgery to repair damaged discs. The injury also ended his ROTC activities.
Upon his father’s retirement from the US Army in March 1958, the family moved to Raleigh, NC where Ken enrolled at North Carolina State College (now NCSU) and graduated in June 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
To pay his way through college, Ken worked with encyclopedia companies to place volumes of their books in people’s homes. He was a crew leader and guided sales operations in various cities over several summers and falls. After graduating from NCSU in 1963, he started work with the City of Charlotte in its Engineering Department and soon became a Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina. He rose to the position of Assistant City Engineer, supervising a large staff responsible for designing and managing the construction of roadway improvement projects, drainage structures, and municipal buildings. His employees also oversaw the design of and implementation of landscape improvement projects. Ken retired from the Engineering Department in 1997. He worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and later processed storm damage claims made through insurance companies.
Ken volunteered with Sharon United Methodist Church (now SouthPark Church) helping with projects sponsored by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). He assisted with a building project in Puerto Rico and a storm damage rehabilitation project in Louisiana. His volunteering service continued with Habitat for Humanity (Habitat Charlotte) laying out floor and wall plates for house construction, constructing porch railings, and building utility sheds.
Ken was an avid hunter, enjoying trips with friends to hunt White Tail Deer in eastern North Carolina and Ring-Necked Pheasant in the Midwest. He enjoyed traveling with family members and cousins and arranged trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Beijing, Oklahoma, New England and California. He enjoyed his friends and sponsored regular gatherings to socialize. He enjoyed family reunions. Survivors include his two children, Michael Gillis (Wyndy) and Dianna Gillis Lamb; his four siblings, Linda Averette (James), Dan Gillis (Barbara), Doug Gillis (Marsha) and Earl Gillis (Karen); and two grandchildren, Brittany Gillis and Joshua Lamb.
Virtual funeral services are planned for 11:00 am Thursday, March 4, 2021.
Flowers are welcome or contributions may be made to Habitat For Humanity.
Please join the live stream & share condolences online at www.wilsonfuneralservices.com.
Services
Memories
Kenneth Glen Gillis
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ADD A MEMORYDoug Gillis
February 24, 2021
Kenneth helped organize and fund many birthday celebrations for his Mother. Pictured here when attending her 86th birthday celebration in December 2003.
Doug Gillis
February 24, 2021
Gillis Family on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1954 when living in Asheville, NC. Pictured left to right are Dan, Thelma,Doug, Glen, Linda, Earl and Kenneth Gillis.
Doug Gillis
February 24, 2021
Pictured left to right are Linda Averette, Dan Gillis, Doug Gillis, Ken Gillis, Earl Gillis, and Thelma Gillis. The photo was taken in 1989.
FROM THE FAMILY
Gillis family portrait in Asheville, 1948
Thelma holding baby Earl, Glen holding Linda and Doug,
Ken and Dan completed the family of seven!
FROM THE FAMILY
Family Picnic 1944 while Ken's dad was stationed at Ft Sill, Oklahoma.
FROM THE FAMILY
Thelma with Ken and Dan and their new baby sister, Linda.
Taken 1946 at Ft Sill, Oklahoma
FROM THE FAMILY
Thelma with Dan and Ken in the sailor uniforms she made for them.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken with his younger brother Dan
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken on his 3rd Birthday. The day his Dad left to go overseas for WWII.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and his parents in 1940 at Ft Bragg, NC.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken with his mom and his new baby brother, Dan in 1941, in Stoney Knob, NC.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken at Ft Bragg, wearing the Army Uniform made by his mom.
FROM THE FAMILY
Toddler Ken.
FROM THE FAMILY
Brand new parents!
FROM THE FAMILY
Grandpa and Grandma Gillis with cousin Lloyd and baby Ken.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken with his 1st Birthday cake.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's very first picture. March 1939
FROM THE FAMILY
Staff Sargent Glen Gillis with his young family before going to war in March 1942.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and brother, Dan playing in their back yard in Germany.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's dad taught his sons how to hunt.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's elementary school picture. In Earlangen, Germany the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades were in one room and taught by Mrs.
Gallagher.
FROM THE FAMILY
Passport Picture
Dan, Ken
Linda, Earl, Doug
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's mom with her five kids on their way to Germany.
FROM THE FAMILY
On April 26, 1949, when Granddaddy Gillis died, the Red Cross got permission for Ken's dad to return home. Finding his wife at her "wits end" with five kids, three of whom were in diapers, he packed his family up and off to Germany they went.
FROM THE FAMILY
Siblings Doug, Linda, Earl, Dan and Ken with their dogs at their home in Asheville, NC .
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's parents invited a Korean office to enjoy Christmas dinner with them at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
FROM THE FAMILY
Brothers Earl, Ken, Doug, and Dan in front of their dad's boat.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken graduated in 1963 from North Carolina State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and Laraine with their new born son, Mike.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken visiting his son Mike when he graduated from Marine basic training.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken visited his son Mike while he was stationed in Hawaii.
FROM THE FAMILY
On the trip for Ken's 50th High School Reunion, Ken and Linda visited Uncle Willie and Aunt Freida Gillis before taking a trip back in time to where they lived in Ft. Hood and Ft. Sill.
FROM THE FAMILY
The First Baptist Church of Killeen, Texas as Ken remembered it when he was baptized. This picture shows the church that existed from 1917 to 1968.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken in front of the new First Baptist Church in Killeen, Texas where he was baptized in 1953. It looked nothing like he remembered it!
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and Linda enjoying the view at the top of Mt. Scott where our family enjoyed many outings while living at Ft. Sill. Ken and his brother, Dan, spent many hours hiking up boulders to the top.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken enjoyed a Meer's famous Buffalo Burger which is actually made from a half pound of Longhorn Beef. Meer's Store was established in 1901. People come from all over the word to visit this store.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken attended Rogers Elementary School at Ft. Sill. This school is still educating young children.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and his daughter Dianna.
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Gillis family portrait in Asheville, 1948
Thelma holding baby Earl, Glen holding Linda and Doug,
Ken and Dan completed the family of seven!
FROM THE FAMILY
Family Picnic 1944 while Ken's dad was stationed at Ft Sill, Oklahoma.
FROM THE FAMILY
Thelma with Ken and Dan and their new baby sister, Linda.
Taken 1946 at Ft Sill, Oklahoma
FROM THE FAMILY
Thelma with Dan and Ken in the sailor uniforms she made for them.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken with his younger brother Dan
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken on his 3rd Birthday. The day his Dad left to go overseas for WWII.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and his parents in 1940 at Ft Bragg, NC.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken with his mom and his new baby brother, Dan in 1941, in Stoney Knob, NC.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken at Ft Bragg, wearing the Army Uniform made by his mom.
FROM THE FAMILY
Toddler Ken.
FROM THE FAMILY
Brand new parents!
FROM THE FAMILY
Grandpa and Grandma Gillis with cousin Lloyd and baby Ken.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken with his 1st Birthday cake.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's very first picture. March 1939
FROM THE FAMILY
Staff Sargent Glen Gillis with his young family before going to war in March 1942.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and brother, Dan playing in their back yard in Germany.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's dad taught his sons how to hunt.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's elementary school picture. In Earlangen, Germany the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades were in one room and taught by Mrs.
Gallagher.
FROM THE FAMILY
Passport Picture
Dan, Ken
Linda, Earl, Doug
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's mom with her five kids on their way to Germany.
FROM THE FAMILY
On April 26, 1949, when Granddaddy Gillis died, the Red Cross got permission for Ken's dad to return home. Finding his wife at her "wits end" with five kids, three of whom were in diapers, he packed his family up and off to Germany they went.
FROM THE FAMILY
Siblings Doug, Linda, Earl, Dan and Ken with their dogs at their home in Asheville, NC .
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken's parents invited a Korean office to enjoy Christmas dinner with them at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
FROM THE FAMILY
Brothers Earl, Ken, Doug, and Dan in front of their dad's boat.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken graduated in 1963 from North Carolina State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and Laraine with their new born son, Mike.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken visiting his son Mike when he graduated from Marine basic training.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken visited his son Mike while he was stationed in Hawaii.
FROM THE FAMILY
On the trip for Ken's 50th High School Reunion, Ken and Linda visited Uncle Willie and Aunt Freida Gillis before taking a trip back in time to where they lived in Ft. Hood and Ft. Sill.
FROM THE FAMILY
The First Baptist Church of Killeen, Texas as Ken remembered it when he was baptized. This picture shows the church that existed from 1917 to 1968.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken in front of the new First Baptist Church in Killeen, Texas where he was baptized in 1953. It looked nothing like he remembered it!
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and Linda enjoying the view at the top of Mt. Scott where our family enjoyed many outings while living at Ft. Sill. Ken and his brother, Dan, spent many hours hiking up boulders to the top.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken enjoyed a Meer's famous Buffalo Burger which is actually made from a half pound of Longhorn Beef. Meer's Store was established in 1901. People come from all over the word to visit this store.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken attended Rogers Elementary School at Ft. Sill. This school is still educating young children.
FROM THE FAMILY
Ken and his daughter Dianna.