Kenneth Paul Petrea, 78, of Fairview, North Carolina went home to be with Lord on Sunday September 5, 2021. He was at home surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Paul was born December 15, 1942 to the late Glenn Calvin and Rachael Melton Petrea in Concord, NC.
Paul was married to the love of his life Brenda Helms for 54 years. They served at Hopewell Baptist Church in Fairview where they both were members. Paul proudly served his nation in the United States Army as a Spec 5 Specialist and is a Vietnam War Veteran. He spent 27 years with Overnite Transportation Company as a forklift mechanic. He was a family man and enjoyed being with his grandkids as much as he could. He was a loyal friend that never met a stranger. Paul loved to text, “Paul’s Morning Group” and he would send over 200 hundred texts to family and friends every single morning. He always wanted them to know that they were loved. Paul really wanted to make sure that the people he encountered got to hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was known for giving out crosses as part of his witnessing. When he wasn’t’ witnessing he enjoyed his time at Lake Lure, North Carolina. He enjoyed viewing wildlife at his daughter’s cabin. It was a nice and quiet place where he could just sit back and enjoy nature.
Kenneth Paul Petrea is preceded in death by his wife Brenda Petrea, a brother Jerry C. Petrea and his grandson Connor Tharp. He is survived by his loving children Jackie Foulks (Randy), Pennie Philemon (Daniel) and Sandie Tharp and his grandchildren Kaycie Philemon Truitt, Colby Pryor Tharp and his brother Fred Carter. The family would like to extend special thanks to Mary Donahue, Bobby Helms, and James Coley.
A graveside service with military honors will be held for Mr. Petrea at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday September 9, 2021 at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery located at 420 Hopewell Church Road, Fairview North Carolina 28110. The service is open to all that would like to attend.