Obituary for Kenneth Harper
Kenneth Lee Harper, of Roanoke, our precious love left us at sunset for his Heaven ascension on June 20, 2020 due to a pulmonary embolus secondary to a femur fracture.
He leaves behind in his legacy, his adoring wife, Melissa Ratcliff Harper; his children, Tamara, Kara (Chris) Gibson and Mandy (Adam) Reed; six beautiful grandchildren (Danielle, Delcie, Alayna, Mia, Gabriella and Trent). He is also survived by his father Ronnie, his brother Tim (Pat), his sister Cindy (Jeff), father and mother-in- law (Martin and Martha), numerous nieces and nephews (he loved as his own), many cousins, aunts, uncles, brother and sister-in-laws (Jen, Larry, Melanie, Mont, Tori, Allen) and extended family and friends, all whom he loved fiercely. He was preceded in death by his sweet mother and mother in law (Joyce and Sheila) whom he has now joined on Heaven’s shores.
Kenny was a true exemplar doing God’s work every day here on Earth for friends, family, community agencies, Roanoke EMS and even strangers. He is a life member of Roanoke EMS, having served his community for 35 years, most recently as President/CEO. He was currently employed as a Medical Communications Specialist. He was a lifetime member of East End Baptist Church (Connection Community Church).
To know Kenny was to love him. He was passionate about his “beautiful crazy,” family, work, catering cooking, baking and music from Elvis to Crawford and Power. He was an avid world traveler who enjoyed exploring new places. He loved the beach, his dad, his girls, his grandbabies, his John Deere tractor (even with a fractured femur, he asked to mow the lawn), his wife’s “weeds,” friends, neighbors, his “nests,” his REMS “blankie,” giving, helping others, wood working, collecting treasures (“junk,” tools screws, pool tables, quarters and anything shiny found on the road), audio books, EMS, Christmas and decorating, buying his wife flowers, “Galavants Harper,” shorts, t-shirts, blue jeans, sunsets, rainbows, “collecting friends,” and his God. Kenny proved chivalry was not a lost art. He left a void that will never be filled again until we are all reunited in Heaven.
Our family is forever indebted to all who worked valiantly to try to save his life and to those who supported his walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death (the love of his life, RFEMS, dear family and friends, CRMH ED (staff, physicians and Mike McKenna), CRMH CSICU (RT, nurses, staff, ECMO team, Dr. Joseph, ACPs), PD, Chaplain Services and David Fox.
In his usual giving tradition, he offered the gift of life.
Visitation will be conducted from 5:30-8:30 pm on Monday, June 22, 2020 at Oakey’s Downtown Chapel. Funeral services will be held at East Gate Church of the Nazarene at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 with Pastor Shannon Harris.
Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Roanoke EMS, The Least of These Ministry or TAP Domestic Violence Services.
EOW 20:50, 6/20/2020, “Harper, MEDCOM and Roanoke EMS.”
Online condolences may be made at www.oakeys.com.
He leaves behind in his legacy, his adoring wife, Melissa Ratcliff Harper; his children, Tamara, Kara (Chris) Gibson and Mandy (Adam) Reed; six beautiful grandchildren (Danielle, Delcie, Alayna, Mia, Gabriella and Trent). He is also survived by his father Ronnie, his brother Tim (Pat), his sister Cindy (Jeff), father and mother-in- law (Martin and Martha), numerous nieces and nephews (he loved as his own), many cousins, aunts, uncles, brother and sister-in-laws (Jen, Larry, Melanie, Mont, Tori, Allen) and extended family and friends, all whom he loved fiercely. He was preceded in death by his sweet mother and mother in law (Joyce and Sheila) whom he has now joined on Heaven’s shores.
Kenny was a true exemplar doing God’s work every day here on Earth for friends, family, community agencies, Roanoke EMS and even strangers. He is a life member of Roanoke EMS, having served his community for 35 years, most recently as President/CEO. He was currently employed as a Medical Communications Specialist. He was a lifetime member of East End Baptist Church (Connection Community Church).
To know Kenny was to love him. He was passionate about his “beautiful crazy,” family, work, catering cooking, baking and music from Elvis to Crawford and Power. He was an avid world traveler who enjoyed exploring new places. He loved the beach, his dad, his girls, his grandbabies, his John Deere tractor (even with a fractured femur, he asked to mow the lawn), his wife’s “weeds,” friends, neighbors, his “nests,” his REMS “blankie,” giving, helping others, wood working, collecting treasures (“junk,” tools screws, pool tables, quarters and anything shiny found on the road), audio books, EMS, Christmas and decorating, buying his wife flowers, “Galavants Harper,” shorts, t-shirts, blue jeans, sunsets, rainbows, “collecting friends,” and his God. Kenny proved chivalry was not a lost art. He left a void that will never be filled again until we are all reunited in Heaven.
Our family is forever indebted to all who worked valiantly to try to save his life and to those who supported his walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death (the love of his life, RFEMS, dear family and friends, CRMH ED (staff, physicians and Mike McKenna), CRMH CSICU (RT, nurses, staff, ECMO team, Dr. Joseph, ACPs), PD, Chaplain Services and David Fox.
In his usual giving tradition, he offered the gift of life.
Visitation will be conducted from 5:30-8:30 pm on Monday, June 22, 2020 at Oakey’s Downtown Chapel. Funeral services will be held at East Gate Church of the Nazarene at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 with Pastor Shannon Harris.
Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Roanoke EMS, The Least of These Ministry or TAP Domestic Violence Services.
EOW 20:50, 6/20/2020, “Harper, MEDCOM and Roanoke EMS.”
Online condolences may be made at www.oakeys.com.