James Stephen Kitchen, age 74 passed away April 19, 2023, at his home.
He was born December 4, 1948, in Portsmouth, VA, the son of the late James Alvin and Mary Estelle Stephens Kitchen. He graduated from Cradock High School in 1967 and entered the United States Coast Guard in 1968 and served a four-year enlistment, part of that time was served aboard an ice breaker gathering intelligence and escorting ships near Greenland and Iceland. After his active duty he served an additional eighteen years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He began his Civil Service career in 1973, where he was employed at the Navy Regional Finance Center, Norfolk, VA and ended with Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, SC. Part of his responsibility was packing, handling, storage and transportation of the Global Command and Control System-Maintenance afloat. He retired as a Logistics Management Specialist after thirty-five years total service.
He and his wife Martha moved to Henderson in 2005. They were active members of the Estes Church of Christ. He enjoyed his grandchildren, Jesse, Jemma and Jada and enjoyed playing golf.
Mr. Kitchen is survived by his wife, Martha Carolyn Talley Kitchen of Henderson; a son James Nathan (Nate) Kitchen and wife April of Henderson; three grandchildren, Jesse, Jemma and Jada.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Paul Grant Kitchen in 1985.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, April 21st at Estes Church of Christ with Mark Blackwelder and Allen Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Chester County Memory Gardens with Military Honors.
The family will receive friends at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday and then from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM service time at the church Friday.
Shackelford Funeral Directors
Henderson, TN
