Gerald R. Kenyon

Kenyon, Gerald R., 91, of Rutherfordton, N.C., was born in New London, C.T. on January 22, 1930 to the late Donald E. Kenyon, Sr. and Dorothy (Rogers) Kenyon. He passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at Rutherfordton Regional Health System.

A lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist church, Gerald graduated from Southern Missionary College (now Southern Adventist University) in 1954 with Bachelor’s degrees in business and religion. He served in various capacities throughout his career at Forest Lake Academy, Orlando, F.L., Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, Charlotte, N.C., Indiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, Indianapolis, I.N., and Oak Park Academy, Nevada, I. A., retiring in 1995 as treasurer of Trust Services for the Carolina Conference. With a passion for history, after retirement Gerald began volunteering with Adventist Heritage Ministries for the next 20 years and traveled to the historic William Miller far at Low Hampton, N.Y. for a couple weeks each year to serve as caretaker/tour guide. Additionally, he was very active in his church, the Rutherfordton Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he was head elder.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Dorothy Kenyon, and his brother, Donald E. Kenyon, II.

Gerald is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jean Kenyon; two sons, Paul (Carol) Kenyon of Sturgeon Bay, W.I., and Doug Kenyon of Steamboat Springs, C.O., and a daughter, Gayle Kenyon of Auburn, K.Y.; three stepsons, Ron (Brenda) Conner of Waynesville, N.C., Jerry (Anna) Conner of Hendersonville, N.C.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial services for Gerald R. Kenyon was held on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church, Arden, N.C., with Pastor Don Gettys officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to Adventist Heritage Ministries at P.O. Box 1414, Battle Creek, M.I. 49016-1414, or Student Missions Operations at Southern Adventist University, P.O. Box 370, Collegedale, T.N. 37315. For online giving go to: adventistheritage.org or southern.edu