Kenneth Glenn Beach

Kenneth Glenn Beach, 73, of Gastonia, NC, passed away Sunday, October 3, 2021, at his residence.

He was born on December 14, 1947.  He was the only child of the late Glenn Hoyle Beach, and Nellie Rose Weaver Beach.

Kenneth graduated Hunter Huss High School in 1966, where he was a member of the Civitan Club, H. Club, Rotary Club, and guidance council. He was athletic in High School, participating in football, baseball, and wrestling. After high school Kenneth served four years in the United States Marine Corps (1967-1971) including a tour as a helicopter gunner in Vietnam, 1969-1970. The military life agreed with Ken, he liked the discipline and military tradition. On November 25,1968, Ken married Louella Green Beach, his high school sweetheart. The two were married for 54 years. Ken is survived by his wife, Louella, his son's family, Ken Beach Jr., wife Kierstin Smith Beach, and daughter, Sophie Reese Beach, and his daughter's family: Lore Beach Spivey, husband Mark Wesley Spivey, children Trenton Wesley Spivey and Morgan Leigh Spivey. On March 12, 1973, Ken joined the Gaston County Police Department. He began as a patrol officer, moving on to investigate murders, and later took on the paperwork of an executive captain. He worked hard, simultaneously earning his degree in criminal justice from Gardner Webb University. He continued to rise through the ranks, and on September 23,1993, at the age of 46, he realized his lifetime goal of being named Chief of the department. He was quoted as saying at the time, "This is without a doubt the proudest moment of my law enforcement career." According to the Gaston Gazette his appointment to the position "was met by applause from a crowd that had gathered to watch". Ken's former boss, the late Tom McCarthy, said of Ken "He was loyal to the department and to what was right". During Ken's watch the Gaston County Police Department was nationally accredited in 1991 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and became one of the most professional and best paid departments in the state of North Carolina. After 25 years of public service, on September 3, 1998, Ken retired from the Gaston County Police Department. On January 24, 2000, he took on a new position as Head of Security for the Gaston County School System where he served an additional ten years until July 20, 2010. Ken was a dedicated Christian and attended Revival Tabernacle Church in Stanley, NC.

Visitation will be held 6-8 pm on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at the South Chapel of Greene Funeral Service – 1503 S. York Rd., Gastonia, NC 28052.

Funeral service officiated by Rev. John Mayberry, will be held 2pm on Friday, October 8, 2021, at the funeral home.

Burial to follow the service at Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia.

Military honors will be held by Gaston County Police Department.

Condolences may be made online at www.greenefuneral.com