He was educated in the Chicago Public School System. He attended Medill Elementary School, Wells High School and attended Kennedy King College. Ken went through a brief militant stage and was a member of the Black Panther Party.
He met Victoria C. Smith in 1970 and they married on January 21, 1972. Ken and Vickey have two children T’Shanna Kenyea Smith-Laventon and Kenneth Andre’ Smith. Ken was a family man. His wife and children meant everything to him.
Ken accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was Baptized by Rev. Billy J. Jones at Samaritan Bible Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois on August 7, 1977. He became an Ordained Deacon on December 18, 1983.
He worked at Trailways Bus Station as a baggage handler, drove a Cab for a few years, was an over the road driver for Greyhound Bus Company, worked for a few private bus companies and eventually worked as an RTD Bus Driver/Trainer until his health started failing.
Ken was an avid Chicago Bears Fan and he liked the White Sox too. He was a quiet, kind man and he had a wonderful personality. He was a genuinely likable person everybody who had opportunity to spend time with him enjoyed their time together.
He used to always wear his baseball cap that said, “God has been so good to me.” And he loved it when someone commented on his hat.
Ken developed serious health problems over the past 14 years and was faced with one serious illness after another. On November 16, 2018 God delivered Ken from his suffering and healed him perfectly on the other side.
He leaves to celebrate his life and mourn his loss his wife of 46 years, Victoria C (Vickey) Smith, his mother, Mrs. Josephine Smith from Chicago, Illinois, daughter, T’Shanna Kenyea Smith-Laventon (Vidal), his son, Kenneth Andre’ Smith. Seven Grandchildren: Oumari Andre’ Smith, Tre’von Alan Smith, Kiersten Kalani Laventon, Charli Rae Smith, Tristan Vidal Laventon, Trevor Kenner Laventon, and Stefen Ray Smith. Three brothers Willie from Denver Colorado, Shannon and Derrick (Karen) from Chicago, Illinois, two sisters; Crystal Shakespeare from Detroit, Michigan, and Felicia (Jeffrey) Wilson from Chicago, Illinois; brother, Michael Van Smith, Mother in Law, Dolores Redding, and Godson, Preston James Lyons.
Kenny had an extra special place in his heart for sister-in-law/daughter, Janine Morris (Tyree); Son-in-law Vidal Laventon; sister-in-law Crystal Price (Melvyn); brother-in-law Fred Redding, Jr, (Sherry); Nephew/son Kevin Smith (Audrey); Nieces Angelique, Sirha, Alethea, Shontel, Tawana, Cynthia, Christine, and Tylonda; Nephews Fredrick, Michael, Josef, Timothy, Darrick, Jeffrey Matthew, Philip, DeAnte’ and DeShawn.
We have all been blessed to have such a wonderful husband, father, Father-in-law, Son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend.
So, to Vickey’s love bones, Son, Daddy, Dad, Poppy, Ken, Kenny, Big Kenny, Kenneth, Uncle Kenny, Deacon Kenny, Tack, and any names you were so lovingly called, we will not say good-bye we say “see you later”.
