Kenneth E Tutterow

The funeral will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2014, at First Baptist Church, Greensboro. Rev. Dr. Stephen Pressley, Rev. Dr. Robert B. Cook, Jr., and Rev. Alan P. Sherouse will conduct the service. There will be a private burial prior to the funeral.

Ken was born October 15, 1940, in Greensboro, to Glenn and Mary Tutterow. He attended Guilford College and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

In 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Judy Weaver Tutterow. He was a wonderful husband and caregiver to her until her death from ALS complications in 2002.

He started his career in 1963 with Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co., one of the big eight accounting firms at the time, where he became a Certified Public Accountant. In 1965, he joined Blue Bell, Inc., the manufacturer of Wrangler jeans and other apparel brands, where he worked for 21 years. He traveled extensively during his time with Blue Bell, and served as the Chief Financial Officer during his last 10 years with the company. He played a major role in the company’s 1981 leveraged buy-out.

In 1980, Ken and Judy became involved as foster parents in the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, a statewide adoption agency, and kept 49 infants in their home over the course of 10 years. In mid-1980, Ken became a member of the CHS Board of Directors, and in 1989 was elected the Chairman of the Board. In 1990, Ken became the President and CEO of the organization. Under his leadership, CHS has grown tremendously and evolved as a highly respected agency serving thousands of children and families across North Carolina each year. He strongly believed in and lived by the agency’s mission of promoting the right of every child to a permanent, safe and loving family.

Ken was instrumental in helping to organize the Children’s Home Society of America, a national network of leading child welfare agencies. He served on their board since its inception in the early 2000’s. In 2009, Ken was honored as an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of families.

He was so fortunate to meet and, in 2007, marry Kaye Wilkins. Their life together, although cut short, was very full. They enjoyed time with their friends, they entertained, they traveled, and, most importantly, they made each other very happy. Ken was blessed to have Kaye by his side the last years of his life.

Ken was a member of First Baptist Church in Greensboro, where he also served as a deacon. He held several leadership positions at the church and chaired the committee that planned and carried out the most recent major renovation of the church’s facilities and sanctuary.

Ken was a leader in the community and was involved in a number of charitable and civic organizations including The Greensboro Symphony, Arts Greensboro (formerly the United Arts Council), The Carolina Theatre, Greensboro Investment Club, UNC-Greensboro’s Human Environmental Sciences Foundation and the Child Welfare League of America.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Kaye W. Tutterow; his three children and their families, Alan, Ruthie, Kevin and Laura Tutterow; Sharon, Danny, Megan and Jake Barlow; Lynn Tutterow and Sue Davis; his stepchildren and their spouses, Terri and Chris Relos, Kent Wilkins, Katie and Roger True, Andrew Wilkins and Kriste Clodfelter; his grandchildren, Savannah and Nicholas, Kendall and Joseph, Kendrik, Taylor, Vennici, and Cassidy; and his brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Norma Tutterow.

The family will receive visitors at The Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, 604 Meadow Street, Greensboro, on Sunday, January 12, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the President’s Fund at the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, P.O. Box 14608, Greensboro, N.C. 27415, or the charity of the donor’s choice.

The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, especially those in the ER, the Neuro-ICU and the Palliative Care units for their excellent care and compassion.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.