Rev. Kenneth Grizzle
March 28, 1927 ~ February 1, 2012
A Barren County man called to preach more than 60 years ago was called to Heaven early Wednesday morning, Feb. 1, 2012. Brother Kenneth Marvin Grizzle, 84, of Glasgow, served as pastor at Grider Memorial Baptist Church since April 1954. Saved in 1942 as a 15-year-old boy, he was called to preach in 1951 and preached his first revival in July of that year at Bristletown School. He was ordained into the ministry at Mt. Pleasant Church, the church he grew up in, in May 1954, a month after he had been called to Grider. Eight years later he added Mt. Pisgah Church where he served until December 1971. He also preached at Kirby Grove for nine years, at Savoyard from 1969 through 1977 and at Allen Grove from 1976 to May 2000. He regularly preached at revival services in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.
Brother Grizzle also reached numerous people who listened to his Sunday morning radio services for more than 60 years on WKAY, now known as WCLU-1490. He had planned to make Sunday’s service his last one because of recent health problems and his role as a devoted caregiver for his wife Emogene, who survives. Their 64th anniversary was Monday, Jan. 30.
A recent visitor at the hospital asked him which was his favorite Bible verse. Despite being gravely ill, he responded quickly, “All of them.” He spent countless hours serving and visiting church members and friends in the hospital. He conducted an untold number of funeral services which included many for people who had no family members. He offered to help anyone who needed it. A strong-willed man, he kept family and friends entertained with a seemingly endless array of jokes and stories that he rarely told a listener more than once.
He was born on March 28, 1927, the son of the late Ruth E. Houchens Grizzle and Harley Grizzle. He was also preceded in death by a brother Raymond Grizzle.
As a child of the Depression Era, he never attended high school but his life experiences and faith helped shape his conservative values. Although he did not have a formal education, his mind was sharp and he could quote scripture with quick recall and accuracy.
His favorite hobby was reading his Bible. He was an avid American history buff, with a particular interest in the Civil War and Gen. Robert E. Lee and valued his collection of Bibles and related books and his history books. He also enjoyed gardening.
Brother Grizzle served 18 months in the U.S. Army in the Philippines in World War II. He worked as a mechanic and carpenter in addition to preaching.
He once said the best thing he ever did for his parents was build them a house, something he did again about 11 years ago for his wife.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grider Memorial Baptist Church with burial in Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.
In addition to his wife Emogene, he is survived by two daughters, Dianna Perkins (Melvin) of Horse Cave and Sandy Adams (Bob) of Bowling Green, a son Phillip Grizzle of Glasgow; eight grandchildren, Shawn Perkins (Debbie) of Glasgow, Gina Huff (Shawn) of Scottsville, Chad Whittington (Melinda) of Columbus, Ohio, Justin and Clint Whittington of Bowling Green, Nicole Whittington of Charlotte, N.C., Tara Lawson (Jason) of Campbellsville, Matt Grizzle of Glasgow and Andy Adams of Bowling Green; four great-grandchildren and two nieces.
Brother Kenneth was a great man. He was a great help to a young man that was starting down the road he had traveled so long, always willing to give help and advise. He will be greatly missed by many. He was a help to so many, only eternity will be when the true wealth of his work will be known. God Bless the entire family, we will be praying for you.
A fine man that will be missed. He helped so many people. Thoughts are with the family and all that he touched.
Bro Kenneth was truly a servant of God’s kingdom as his life’s destiny portrayed daily. When I think of him I cannot help but have thoughts of the many many people he shared Jesus with and led to salvation, myself included. Heaven is rejoicing while our hearts are saddened. I hope the family will be comforted by the presence of God surrounding them during this night season. God bless you all.
Bro Kenneth has always been very special to me and my family. My late husband George always enjoyed the many talks and the time that Bro Kenneth spent with him. He always had such comforting words to offer my family in our times of losing loved ones and I wish the same comfort on his family during this sad time.
Bro. Kenneth was a fine man. He was our landlord for 14 years . I was saved at home and all I could think about was getting to him and sharing my experience with him. I joined his church and always looked up to him for his wisdom of the Bible and the Lord. He will be greatly missed.
The Late Lonnie and Evelyn Barton Family loved Bro. Grizzle and the Church Family with all our Hearts!! He touched us with His Godly Love everytime we were in His presents. What a Reunion in Heaven…our eyes and hearts are so sad…our Prayers are with the entire Family. God Bless You All….
So sad to hear about Bro.Kenneth.He was a great man of God and was loved by many. I remember him coming to see my daddy at home as he was dying of cancer.Daddy did not understand some things and he said that Bro. Kenneth helped him so much. You will be missed here,but Heaven is proud to have a great man of God home.To his family,I offer my condolences.
He was a good man and will be greatly missed.My prayers go out to his family.
What a great man of God ! I wonder if he can even carry all his crowns……praying for the family.
He was a really great man of God , family in our prayers . God Bless
.My prayers are with you! May God wrap his arms around each one you and comfort you in this time of sorrow.
Bro. Kenneth was my mentor and school teacher in searching the scriptures. Every time I was in question concerning something I did not understand in the bible I could always call him and he could tell me where to find the answer. My family has known him for over 40 years what a blessing he has been to us. I am honored to have worked with him in the ministry, in my opinion he was one of the greatest preachers I will ever had the opportunity to have known. Earths loss is heavens gain all these years of preaching about this beautiful place called heaven is now a real to him. One of the days we will meet again around the throne of God and there he will be praising his Lord and God. May God bless his family and Grider Memorial Baptist Church he will be greatly missed. Thank God for knowing Bro. Kenneth.
Brother Kenneth was a fine man and was very good to my family. I was saved in a revival he held many years ago. My mother just passed away and, she would have been so upset of Brother Kenneth’s passing.Heaven has received a fine man.
so sorry to hear of bro. kenneth he was a great man and will be greatly missed my parents william and annie burris loved bro kenneth we had him in our home a lot of times for supper when revival was going on at mt pisgah and they always looked forward to it but mom sure did work me hard everything had to be cleaned those are wonderful memories rip bro kenneth
i know, heaven is rejocing, when bro,kenneth made it home, he was a wonderful man, we loved listening to him each sun. morning. he was so humble. i know he will be so greatly missed by his family and church family, isure believe heaven is still rejoycing, and welcoming him home, the louis bennett family
Dear family: I have known Bro. Kenneth all of my life. Many, many times when my parents, the late Bernice Witty, and Mary D. Witty Carter, were caretakers of the County Farm (Hillcrest Home), Kenneth and Raymond would come there and conduct services for the residents of the home…they also conducted funerals for those who had lived there. My sincerest prayers goes to each of the family members…Bro. Grizzle will be greatly missed by many. May God wrap His loving arms around each of you, hold you close to Him and give you comfort is our prayer for you.
Tony & Paulette (Witty) Wasylycia &
Mary D. (Witty) Carter
So sorry for your loss, Diane. He was a great man & you are a great child of his. May God Bless.
So sorry for your loss.May the Lord be with you and comfort you…
So sorry to hear of Bro Grizzle, I have known him since I was a small child he was a very nice man the last time I saw him was at Dr Thornbury’s office A few months back and like always he stopped and talked to my mother ( Juanita Runyon ) & I . She grew up in his church when she was a small child. REST IN PEACE BRO GRIZZLE,EARTH’S LOSS IS HEAVEN’S GAIN You will be missed ! ! ! .
May all of you be thankful for being with Bro.Grizzle all these years.I realize you only shared him with the community all these years.God truly does enrich us through those he leaves on earth to teach and preach the gospel.Not every family is sure of their loved one’s final home,but you can rest assured that Kenneth is living a lifelong dream in Heaven.Take comfort in this and continue the work.
Rev. Grizzle was greatly appreciatedly by our family, he diner services for both our grandmother and grandfather, as well as being great friends with our Grandad, his family will b n our thoughts and prayers and will miss him greatly.god bless u all
Brother Kenneth has always been special to me because i got saved under his preaching. He was always the same. He will be missed but I know he is rejoicing in Heaven and wouldn’t come back for nothing. May all of you feel God’s comfort.with love, Jackie Barton
Dianna and family,
We were so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. May God’s strength and comfort surround you during this difficult time.
God bless you,
Ranzy & Pat Vincent
Hes did so much for my family I will miss him so very much and My thoughts and prays are with his family he was truly a great man and he will be missed
For so many years Bro. Grizzle blessed many of us in ways he never knew. He worked for the Lord, always ready to share the love of the Lord with others. Although I was not a member of Grider Memorial, I heard him on the radio many times and my daughter, Shelley, while working for a long time on the Sunday morning shift at WCLU came to know him and be blessed by him also. God bless his family; Bro. Grizzle is now brightening up heaven!