Kenneth Johnson Cummins

Kenneth Johnson Cummins, 90, died peacefully on February 29, 2016 in his apartment at the home of his daughter, Catherine Lee Cummins, Ph.D. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was also living with his grandchildren, Kenneth W. "Will" Remsen and Rosalind C. Remsen. He was born in Corbin, Kentucky, on July 12, 1925, and was the son of William Talmage Cummins, Sr. and Iva May Cummins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Morella Jones Cummins, and three of his brothers, W. T., Jr., Donald, and James. His survivors include a sister, Barbara Lee Oliver of Fairfield, Ohio; a brother, Michael and wife, Carol of New Port Richey, Florida; and many nieces and nephews and their children.

Kenneth served in the U. S. Navy Seabees in Hawaii during World War II, and was a life member of the VFW. He graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, and spent an additional year in the graduate school at UT in Knoxville in mathematics. Kenneth and Morella met at LMU and were blessed with a marriage of 62 years.

He was employed for several years at Holston Defense Corporation before being transferred to Tennessee Eastman (Kodak) to join the project team that installed the first computer in the company. He was manager of Computer Systems at TEC when he retired in1983, after 32 years of service.

Some of his interests included reading, writing, painting, and listening to the big band music of the 1930s and 1940s. Morella and he enjoyed driving and hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the beaches at Daytona and Myrtle. They spent many happy hours of these adventures with their grandchildren, especially in Gatlinburg and Dollywood.

Special thanks are extended to Anita and Jim Griggs (niece of Morella and her husband), Brideway Hospice in Baton Rouge, LA, and the LSU Laboratory School Community.

Interment will be in Holston View Cemetery. At his request, there will be no formal graveside service. A memorial service will be conducted at the Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport, TN on March 12 at 2:00, with the family receiving friends after a short memorial by the family. Kenneth was the oldest member of the Three Bells United Methodist Church in Duffield, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, any memorial contribution may be made to the Three Bells United Methodist Church, 312 Fugate Street, Thomas Village, Duffield, VA 24244.

Cemetery Details