Kenneth Harold Exum

Kenneth H. Exum (known to all as Ken or Papaw), age 79, went home to be with His Lord on July 7, 2020 after spending 18 increasingly difficult days fighting the COVID virus and all related complications. We are sad to say that he was in the ICU at St. David’s Round Rock during the final days of his life -- though bathed in constant care by the ICU staff and doctors at St. David’s, surrounded by his most immediate family members throughout, and shrouded in a vigil of prayer from friends and family both near and far.

Despite holding a high school diploma and only a few hours of college credit, Ken had a most accomplished career as a Financial Comptroller in the Retail Tire & Rubber Industry. He began his career with Firestone not long after high school – accepting at least 8 corporate transfers in his 25 years of loyal service to the company, each one opening up a progressive series of opportunities for him and his family along the way. His network of colleagues in the tire business runs both deep and wide due to his many years of dedicated and loyal service. As a result, our network of family and church friends spanning across the country does as well.

In 1981, he made his final move from the Atlanta territory to Austin, Texas to work for an old North Carolina friend, Perry Rose, of GCR Truck & Tire Centers. He settled his family in nearby Georgetown, Texas and chose Crestview Baptist as the family’s new church home (always a first consideration of his during each move). Once settled in Texas, he continued his career time with GCR. The company was later acquired by Bridgestone/Firestone in an unexpected change that allowed him to not only bridge his service back to Firestone but also retire from the company with which he began his career. After retiring from Firestone, Ken had a fully successful second career with locally-owned Lamb’s Tire & Automotive. There he helped a legacy-style, family-owned business modernize their accounting systems, implement in-store Point-of-Sale systems, and automate inventory control systems – proving to all of us that old dogs can learn new tricks and surpassing all of us with his high tech know how!

Ken was the most devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, steadfast brother and uncle, and tough but loving coach and mentor to many a young man, baseball and softball player throughout his adult life. Above all else, he was a faithful servant of Christ. You didn’t need to look any farther than the Church, the softball field, or his own backyard to know where he was. He spent all of his free time enjoying the things he loved most in one of those 3 places. None of them will be quite the same without his dependable presence there. If he wasn’t there, then he was taking his “sweetheart” out for a lunch date or you would have found him sitting on the sidelines somewhere, camera in hand, cheering on his grandkids (or yours!) at their latest basketball, soccer, or football game or poolside for the latest swim meet. He was dedicated, and loyal, and always there … camera in hand, a story or two to tell, a piece of advice to offer or a laugh or two to share.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents Eugene Leroy Exum and Phoebe Gray (Sanderson) Exum of Beulaville, North Carolina. He is survived by his cherished sweetheart and loving wife of 59 years, Pat; his oldest daughter, Tammy Cleckler, son-in-law, Jeff and grandson, Thomas Gene of Harlingen, Texas; his middle daughter, Maria Garrett, son-in-law, Matt and granddaughter, Abigail Rose of Austin, Texas; and his youngest daughter, Nicole Maidlow, son-in-law, Derek and grandsons, Kade Donovan and Noah Campbell of Georgetown, Texas. Ken is also survived by his sister, Norma Ann Dew of Beulaville, North Carolina and his nephews, Christopher and Michael Dew.

The family will receive guests for a time of visitation from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday, July 17, 2020 at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown, Texas. Interment will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown, Texas. For the safety of family, attendees and staff, wearing masks and practicing social distancing will be in place for all the services.

In honor of Ken, the family is working to have a memorial bench and shade tree installed near the softball fields in Georgetown. Once installed, we invite you to visit there often. When you do, take a moment to tip your hat to the man who loved the game almost as much as life itself. If you listen closely enough, we think you’ll hear the familiar sound of him saying “play ball” as you do.

In lieu of flowers, the family would invite you to consider making contributions to the following organizations: Crestview Baptist Church (Softball Fund) or Crestview Baptist Church (Building Fund) or Texas Baptist Children’s Home (Round Rock, Texas).