Kenneth Wayne Loden, Sr., 78, passed away on Friday, October 28, 2022, at his home. He was born October 8, 1944, at home in the Greenwood Community of Itawamba County, to Abner Moore Loden and Josie Eckles Gregory Loden. Shortly thereafter, he had Diphtheria and was in extremely critical condition for a long time. At the age of three, they moved to where his parents had built a new house on the Walton Cemetery/New Hope Baptist Church Community in Itawamba County. The house was on a small farm, but was considered large to Kenneth and his siblings because it was during the time period of electricity, no running water, only mules to farm with, chickens, hogs, and cows to feed, cotton to chop, hoe, and pick, corn to work and gather. He was accustomed to very hard work even though later there was electricity and a tractor. These memories, along with the raising of his children, and being near his grandchildren, were some of his greater memories. He attended Friendship Grammar School, and Mantachie High School, and attended Itawamba Junior College, before dropping out to get married. Kenneth held various jobs before settling down to a railroad career which began with Southern Pacific Railroad and St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt Route) in Memphis, TN, a subsidiary of Southern Pacific Company, where he climbed the corporate ladder of management moving around all over the US, from Tennessee to Illinois and Oregon, until his vision deteriorated to the extent he could no longer work in May 1986. He held twelve driver’s license in his lifetime. After his retirement, he purchased and moved back to his home and farm in Mantachie, where he took care of his elderly mother until her death in March 1992. He then took up singing and entertaining and had the joy of performing in many places.
For many years he was very active with blind groups serving as Vice President of Tennessee Council of the Blind, and President American Council of the Blind in North Miss. He enjoyed helping others, especially those less fortunate. In 2003, his volunteering, singing, and entertaining allowed him to be nominated for the GIVE (Governors Initiative for Volunteer Excellence) award which he won and was then nominated for the Jefferson Award which took him to Washington, DC, for the national Jefferson competition. While in Washington, accompanied by his son, Barry, he entertained by singing “God Bless America.”
He was awarded two keys to the City of Tupelo by two different mayors.
Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 31, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Mantachie with Bro. Rick Murrell and Rev. Darrell Sanderson officiating. Burial will be in the Walton Cemetery.
Survivors include his son, Barry Loden; grandsons, Adam Loden and Dakota Loden; granddaughters, April Martin and Kelsey Loden.
He also leaves his sisters, Janet Jones, Jettie Norris (David), Sue Murrell (Ed), sister in law, Eva Loden, many nieces, nephews, plus his personal favorite companion, “Fancy”, a thirteen pound Rat Terrier dog, and princess red fox retriever.
He also leaves the love of his life, wife, Linda Carol Loden; along with her two sons, Jerry and Mike, her daughter, Penny, along with their spouses and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth Wayne Loden, Jr,; his brothers, Edward Loden and wife Alene, Albert Loden and wife Margaret, Douglas Loden, and infant brother and sister; and his parents.
Visitation will be Monday, October 31, from noon until service time at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Mantachie.
