Kenneth Reeves

Kenneth Reeves, 86, of Powder Springs passed peacefully in his home on July 9, 2018. A Memorial Service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, July 14th at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta. The family will receive friends from 1pm until 3pm prior to the service. Donations may be made to Wellstar Community Hospice.

He was born on June 18, 1932 at the Kingshill Hospital in Swindon, England. Ken was the son of William and Irene Reeves, who lived at 19 Catherine Street. He married Marian J. Haggard on February 27, 1954 and emigrated from Liverpool to Canada five months later on the Empress of Australia. After arriving in Toronto, Ken began his career as a design draftsman working on the Avro Arrow advanced fighter jet. In 1959 he made his way to America and joined General Motors in the Detroit area. In the early 1960’s, Ken moved south and established roots in Cobb County. His athleticism and outgoing personality helped shape the early years of the YMCA and high school soccer movement in the region, reaching thousands of young players. Ken had a long and successful career at Lockheed as a liaison engineer for the C-130 Hercules program until his retirement in 1997. His career included extensive travel and assignments to various cultures and places within the U.S. and overseas.

On September 11, 1982, Ken married Ann E. Wakely, and they began a lifelong friendship and love for each other. Ken had a lust for life and lived it to the fullest. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed many professional golf events. Ken once caddied for his friend, LPGA’s Laura Davies. He had a passion and great eye for photography, which became a favorite hobby in retirement. Annual family gatherings in Hilton Head Island, SC, over three decades were a source of endless memories. Ken and Ann made it a priority to expose their grandchildren to the arts and took them on many trips such as Disney World and England. Ken was intelligent, compassionate, selfless, a hard worker, a peace maker, and an inspiration to all who knew him. He was a ray of sunshine and will be missed by his large, extended family who loved him dearly.

Predeceased by his great grandson, Brantley Dobbs, Ken is survived by his beloved wife, Ann Reeves; his sons: Grant Reeves and wife, Vicky, of Charleston, SC, Kevin Reeves of Woodstock, GA, John Wakely of Marietta, GA, Michael Wakely and wife, Patty, of Savannah, GA; his daughters: Denise Curd and husband, Ross, of Swindon, England, Karen Primm and husband, David, of Villa Rica, GA, Julie Lane and husband, Jeff, of Spartanburg, SC, Allison Wakely of Powder Springs, GA, Denise Dobbs and husband, Mike, of Dallas, GA, Elaine Jackson and husband, Danny, of Dallas, GA, Sarah Greckel and husband, Mike, of Acworth GA. Ken is survived by twenty-one grandchildren: Christopher Reeves and wife, Rachel, Tomi Ann Proctor, Adam Reeves, Kendall Reeves, George Curd, Joshua Primm and wife, Elizabeth,, Jacob Primm and wife, Katie, Rebekah Primm, Hannah Zimmerman and her husband, Matthew, Marissa Robbins and her husband, David, Ansley Lane, Will Lane, Ann Marie Wakely, Lizzie Wakely, Graham Dobbs, Olivia Dobbs, Brandon Dobbs and wife, Jamie, Trent Jackson, Mollie Jackson, Nolan Greckel, and Andrew Greckel. Ken is also survived by seven great grandchildren: Devin Reeves, Lincoln Reeves, Jack Reeves, Catherine Primm, Kam Hughes, Reeves Robbins and Lucy Dobbs.