Kenneth "Ken" Lee Milton
Kenneth “Ken” Lee Milton departed from this life to be with the Lord, on Saturday, August 24, 2024. He was born April 29, 1942, in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the only son of the late John Ivan “Spider” Milton and Mary (née Preston) Milton (currently age 104!) and has one sister, Brenda May (married to John May of Lynchburg). Both the Milton and the Preston families were rather large, generating all kinds of kinfolk.
A graduate of Rustburg High School, in 1962, Ken married his high school sweetheart, Estella “Stella” (née Ligon). They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2012, just prior to Stella’s death in 2013. Together they raised a family of three children. Kevin (married to Christi) retired from the US Army and currently resides in Midway, Georgia; and their children, Jonathan (and wife Sarah) and Teresa Ringle (husband Justin) made Ken a great-grandfather six times! Todd (married to Elizabeth) took the baton with the construction company and lives in Appomattox, Virginia; and their children are Elliot (wife Miranda), Sam, and Sophia. Tracey (married to John Turner) is a nurse and educator in Lynchburg; their son, Brayden, who was especially close to “Grempa”. “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
In addition to his family, part of Ken’s unobtrusive yet enduring legacy is that of one of the area’s finest homebuilders. In the late 1970’s, he and Dick Bass started Bass & Milton Construction Company in Appomattox, Virginia, building hundreds of custom homes, along with a premier reputation. Ken and Todd started Milton Construction Company in 2010, which can still be found operating out of the same old “shop” on Confederate Boulevard.
In 2015, Ken married Marie Morgan, whose children and grandchildren all dearly love Ken. They shared this last decade together, making it one of the best highlights of Ken’s long life. He built his final (and most outstanding) home for Marie. They also enjoyed traveling and took many trips in the RV together. Finding a renewed interest in woodworking in these years, many of our homes now showcase his projects. You could even often find him strumming his guitar; he and Marie are devoted members of Memorial Methodist Church in Appomattox.
In these final years, while Ken was unfortunately beset with Lewy Body Dementia along with a few other health conditions, he maintained his gentle and kind spirit, and until he could no longer utter a single word, he kept up with his charming and cheerful wit and playfulness. His family is very thankful to the loving staff at Runk & Pratt’s Pearls of Life facility, Gentle Shepherd Hospice, Aidan Jamison, and Jenna Wright for their care and kindness in these final months. Many have heard (and even uttered) the matrimonial vows “in sickness and in health…so long as you both shall live” they have now surely been displayed in Marie’s remarkable care for Ken.
The Milton family remains filled with gratitude for Ken’s steady shoulders, upon which many of us have found support to this day.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, August 30, 2024, at Memorial Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Dr. Mark Allen and Colton Allen. The family will receive friends at Memorial Methodist following the service.
A private family burial will be held in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Those wishing to make memorials please consider Memorial Methodist Church, PO Box 9, Appomattox, VA 24522 or Gentle Shephard Hospice, 2045 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, VA 24019.
Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family, www.robinsonfuneral.com
