William Kenneth "Ken" Fortner

William Kenneth “Ken” Fortner, age 81 of Concord went home to be with the Lord on May 28, 2020 at Tucker Hospice House of Cabarrus County.

Ken was born October 21, 1938 in Cabarrus County, NC a son of the late Horace and Reba Smith Fortner.

Ken was retired from 36 ½ years in the trucking industry; with 15 years at Akers Motor Line, 19 years with Consolidated Freightways of Charlotte and 2 ½ years at Pilot Freight out of Kernersville, NC.

He attended Winecoff High School before entering the US Air Force where he was stationed in Hawaii and received an Honorable Discharge following four years of service.

Ken was a member of First Wesleyan Church of Kannapolis where he taught Sunday School for 17 years. He drove the church bus, sang in the choir and served on the church Board.

Ken had a love for classic cars and car shows.

Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M. Sunday, May 31, 2020 at Whitley’s Funeral Home Annex Chapel conducted by Rev. Scott Wheeler. Interment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park with military graveside rites conducted by the US Air Force and the Cabarrus County Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends at the Annex Chapel one hour prior to the funeral service.

Family members left to cherish his memory include his wife of 61 years; Melanie Fink Fortner, three children; Lori Ann Moseley and husband Doug, Lisa Lynn Furr and husband Jeff, Michael K. Fortner and wife Melanie M. Fortner, four grandchildren; Laura F. Huie, Joshua Ray Furr, Kayla Moseley and Matthew K. Fortner. He is also survived by two great grandchildren, Hutch and Hallie Huie and a sister, Barbara Brooks.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to First Wesleyan Church, 301 Bethpage Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Fortner and online condolences may be sent to www.whitleysfuneralhome.com