Kenneth Yates

KENNETH ELDEN YATES was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, August 31, 1952. He grew up in Pataskala, Ohio, and was a proud graduate of Licking Heights High School, where he ran track and was on the football team. After graduating, Kenneth worked as a chef, at the Country Club in Whitehall, Ohio. He later enlisted in the United States Army.

Kenneth was wounded in Vietnam during his second-year tour of duty. He returned home to Ohio and entered school to earn his CDL for driving trucks. Kenneth completed his CDL certification, top in his class. He drove locally before heading cross country to Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, (VAFB) where his sister, Toyia, was stationed. Kenneth immediately got a driving/supply specialist position with a VAFB contractor. He worked hard driving throughout the west coast area. He later was employed with Ultran and the VA in Martinez, California.

Some of Kenneth’s hobbies were building cars, fishing, gardening, boating, hunting, and coaching softball. He built cars and raced them at National Trails Raceway when he was younger. Kenneth coached softball at Licking Heights during the summer, in the late 70’s, coached two seasons of VAFB women’s softball in the late 80’s, as well as an abundance of fishing up and down the west coast.

Kenneth met Ms. Rosa Mary Rosales in VAFB, CA. They were united in holy matrimony on January 16, 1988. The family returned to Columbus, Ohio, where Kenneth worked at the Auto Auction, Newark Parcel, Aladdin, and DFAS. Kenneth moved north of Columbus and retired in Bloomville, Ohio. He continued building cars, gardening, and yes, lots and lots of fishing. He also served as chaplain of the American Legion Organization.

Our beloved Kenneth E. Yates entered eternal rest on Monday, May 1, 2023. He was seventy years of age. Kenneth was preceded in death by his father, Walter Myles Yates; mother, Evelyne Rosie Nash-Yates-Banner; brothers, Thomas, Robert, Edward, and Ernest Yates; and daughter, Katrina Marie Yates.

Loving memories are cherished by his wife of 35 years, Rosa Mary Yates; sons, Dane Yates of Texas, Kenneth II, Ky (Ebony) Yates, and Kent Yates; daughters, Janethia Sanders and Kendra (Dejuan) VanCleaf; grandchildren, Kenneth III, Honestie, Mya, Kyla, Taylor, Isis, Justin, Sha’Cobi, Devin, Donavan, Abbie, Christian, Kenada, and Stephanie; great grandchildren, Justin Jr., Jaxcyn, and Bailey; his sister, Toyia “Ty” Yates; nieces, Jackiethia Butsch, Megan Yates, and Nikkole Thompson; great nephew, Nikolai “Twinly” Taylor; mother-in-law, Elsie Jones; father-in-law, Manuel Rosales; best friends, Carl Cremeans, Melvin Harrington, Greg Clayborne, JD Wade, and David Douglas; countless number of cousins, other relatives, and dear friends. KENNETH WILL TRULY BE MISSED BY MANY.

JESUS SAID, “I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND I AM LIFE. Those who believe in me, even though they die: yet shall they live and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I died and behold I am alive for evermore.