Kenneth Lee Files of Brinkley, Arkansas passed away December 16, 2024 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on September 13, 1930 in Dewitt, Arkansas to Henry and Bessie Files. He was the fourth of eight children.

Kenneth moved near Hunter, Arkansas at age five with his parents and siblings. He was the son of a farmer and always loved and appreciated the land that provided them a home and a living.

Kenneth married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Ayn Witherspoon, on June 16, 1951. They created a long, beautiful life together and were devoted to each other during their 73 year marriage. They raised four children, Melanie, Jeff, Susan and Paul.

In 1953, their new marriage was interrupted by a two year tour of duty. Ken was in the Army Signal Corp during the Korean war, and was stationed in Okinawa.

Kenneth was an athlete and excelled at any sport he played, especially baseball and golf. He played ball all the way through adulthood and was still as quick-footed on third base and hard hitting at home in his 40's as he was in high school! He learned to play golf as an adult and soon became one of the best players on any course he played. At the Brinkley Country Club, he broke the club record three times.

In 1956 Kenneth went to college in Kansas City, MO and received a degree in Electronics, Radio and Television Technology in 1958. After graduation, he was one of two students chosen by RCA to relocate to Titusville, Florida to electronically photograph missile launches and flights. A few years later, he was recruited by Boeing to begin work at Cape Canaveral for the Apollo program. At Boeing, he built the 2nd stage of Saturn V and was part of the historic moon landing. Those years were always a much loved topic of conversation with the family.

Kenneth was an experienced pilot. He soloed at age 16 in a brand new Taylorcraft and spent many, many years thereafter loving life in the sky. He not only flew planes, he built two of his own. In 1970, Kenneth returned to Arkansas. He moved his wife and four children back home to farm the family land. He was a country boy at heart and always said he would return to the Files Farm one day.

Kenneth was not only an accomplished man, he was a man of good character. Words such as fair, honest, and integrity always come to mind when speaking of him. In the words of one of his many nephews, "He was always interesting, innovative and kind".

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Bessie; four brothers, Dean, Shelby, Jack and Punk; two sisters, Mavis and Jane.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Joyce; one sister, Ruthie (Don); brother in law, Eddie, four children, Melanie (Charles), Jeff (Marilyn), Susan (Lynn) and Paul; 15 grandchildren, Megan (Jazz), Daniel, Patrick, Mary Joyce, John Kenneth, April (Brandy), Stuart, Will, Stephen, Charlie, Henry, Chris (Alyssa), Devin, Tyler and Courtney (Caleb); 13 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.