Kenney Phipps Funderburke Jr., age 92, of Summerville, SC, died Saturday, March 9, 2019.
Mr. Funderburke was born in Pageland, SC, on April 3, 1926, the first child of Kenney Phipps Funderburke Sr. and Vera Lee Schuler Funderburke.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Murray State College (now University), and graduated from the University of Georgia, with a Bachelor of Science in forestry.
He served three years in the Navy during World War II as a seaman, aviation cadet, and gunnery instructor. Upon graduation from the University of Georgia, he served as an assistant district forester at Walterboro for the South Carolina Forestry Commission. He was then employed by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company and Westvaco for 43 years. Kenney was a pioneer in the forest industry and had multiple assignments for Westvaco, whereby he scouted and purchased large blocks of forestland, and led those operations in Santa Catarina, Brazil, Virginia, and West Virginia. He was a leader in many forestry associations during his career including the Society of American Foresters (Fellow), West Virginia Forestry Association (President), and South Carolina Forestry Association. He was also well known for hiring and mentoring young forestry students through the Westvaco Forestry Internship Program, so much so that his mentoring legacy lives on through the Appalachian Society of American Forester’s K. P. Funderburke Jr. Educational Endowment Fund. The fund was established many years ago to honor Mr. Funderburke and to assist forestry students and young foresters. For his dedicated services to the various states where he worked, he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto from South Carolina, was commissioned an Admiral in the Cherry River Navy in West Virginia, and was named a Kentucky Colonel. He was a lifelong supporter of Second Amendment Rights and Rotary International.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his only brother, Eugene Carson Funderburke.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie Lee of 70 years; three sons, Douglas Bruce (Louise) of Richmond, VA, Kirby Phipps (Lisa) of Lewisburg, WV, and Forrest Kent (Judy) of Marietta, GA; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
No formal ceremonies are planned. His body will be cremated and the ashes will be disposed of in a manner prescribed by the deceased.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of Summerville, SC , or contributions to the K. P. Funderburke, Jr. Educational Endowment Fund may be sent to Appalachian SAF Treasurer,
c/o Tony Doster, Resource Management, 2704 C Exchange Dr., Wilmington, NC, 28405.
As all those who had the opportunity to work with, work for, or be connected to Kenney know, he had a way, typically his way, and we thank you all for making his life fulfilled. Saude.
A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting www.jamesadyal.com.
James A. Dyal Funeral Home, 303 South Main Street, Summerville, SC, 29483, is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the March 19, 2019 edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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