Retired Pastor Kenneth Dill passed from this Earth to his Heavenly Home on December 15, 2016, following a brief illness of metastatic bone cancer. His last days were spent at home surrounded by his family. Family and friends gathered for visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., December 19 at Eaton Funeral home in Sullivan, MO. A service celebrating Ken’s life was held following the visitation at 1 p.m. officiated by Rev. Tom Rudloff and Rev. David Hunter. Burial followed at I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons.
Ken was born January 24, 1937 in Sullivan, MO to Orville (Bud) and Minnie Brewer Dill. He accepted Christ at a young age at Reed’s Defeat mission sponsored by Temple Baptist Church. He was licensed to preach at age 17 at Temple Baptist Church in Sullivan and later was ordained in 1961 to the Gospel Ministry at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, his first pastorate.
Following Ken’s high school graduation, he spent one year in the home building industry with his father. One year was all it took for him to decide that was not for him and he headed for Wheaton College for a summer. While there, he participated in outreach missions under auspices of Pacific Garden Mission. He also had the privilege to preach on States Street in Chicago which left an indelible impression. From Wheaton Ken attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana and from there he transferred to Baylor University in warm Waco, TX. These early experiences fostered his love for reaching the lost for Christ and his zeal never diminished through the years. When asked by the Hospice Chaplain what was his greatest regret, his answer was he wished he had been able to win more lost folks to the Lord.
Ken married the love of his life, Ann Drier, in December 1960 and to this union four children were born. While pastoring churches in Franklin County, Ken worked at Meramec Mining Company until the closing in December 1977. Ken and Ann, along with their four children, then moved to Waco, TX where Ken finished his degree at Baylor University. In the following years, Ken worked and pastored in and around Waco. He formally retired from Calvary Baptist Church in Bourbon, MO in October 1999.
Ken is survived by his faithful, loving wife, Ann, three daughters, Cheri’ and David Hunter, Kim Dill, Cindy and Kent Fox, and son Kevin and special friend Susie Buckner. Also surviving are seven grandsons, Nathaniel (Hannah) and Benjamin (Adrianna) Byrum, Dane (Loren) and Gallant Dill, Frank (Kim), Joe and William Fitzpatrick. He is survived by two granddaughters, Carlie Dill and Emily Fox. Also surviving are step grandchildren, Brian Hunter and Zack and Bethany Vines. In addition, he is survived by four great-grandchildren, Easton Dill, Angelica and Michael Dill, Grasyn Byrum with another Byrum great grandchild due in February. Further survivors include sisters Anna Marie (Jack) Heady, Carol (Jerry) Landers, Alene Marshall and brother Keith (Stephanie) Dill, brother-in-law John (Sandy) Drier and sister-in-law Anna Johnson, along with numerous relatives and friends and fuzzy companion, Molly.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Minnie, his parents-in-law, August and Thelma Johnson Drier, brothers-in-law, Jim Johnson and William Marshall and nephew, Greg Landers.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations be sent to Evergreen Baptist Church in Leslie, MO where Ken was called to preach 50 years ago. Phillippians 1:9-11
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan, MO.