Kenneth Sewell Coe

Kenneth Sewell Coe Jr., 94, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026, at Springs Ranch Memory Care in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Born on May 20, 1931, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Kenneth lived a life marked by faithful service; to his country, his family, and his God.

Kenneth proudly served 22 years in the United States Air Force, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. It was during his service that he met the love of his life, Joan (Joe Ann) Langham, at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. A meeting that would define the rest of his days. Together they built a life that spanned continents, moving through Texas, Florida, California, and England before finally coming home to Wesley, Arkansas, in 2006, where Kenneth had long dreamed of settling. In August 2025, Kenneth and Joe Ann moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to be near their oldest grandchild, Brandon McCollum, who welcomed them into his care for their final season together.

His deployments took him across the globe, and along the way he acquired an unlikely skill — conversational Japanese — which he delighted in using as an icebreaker for the rest of his life, often to the surprise and amusement of everyone around him.

His Christian faith was the bedrock of his life. A longtime member of Atwater Baptist Church and Black Oak Baptist Church, Kenneth served faithfully for many years as a Deacon, giving himself to his congregation with the same quiet commitment he brought to everything. He was also a member of the Free Masons for many years, a brotherhood built on the conviction that when a brother is in need, you show up; a principle that fit the man he was.

Outside of his service and faith, Kenneth was a collector at heart; coins and stamps were his passion, each one a small artifact of history worth preserving. He was the kind of man who found meaning in things others overlooked.

On March 16, 2026, his wife of 67 years, Joe Ann Coe, went home to be with the Lord. Kenneth followed her home forty days later. They were rarely apart in life, and now they are together again.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Joe Ann; his sisters, Catherine and Mary Jane; his son, Kenneth Sewell Coe III; his daughter, Leslie Ann Hendricks; and his son, Charles Mason Coe. He is survived by his son, Todd Andrew Coe of Wesley, AR; his daughter-in-law, Kerin Coe of Atwater, CA; his son-in-law, Larry Hendricks of Atwater, CA; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He leaves behind a legacy of duty, faithfulness, and love — a man who served well in every role he was given, and who finished his course with grace.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

— 2 Timothy 4:7