Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home

Rev. Kenneth Grizzle

March 28, 1927      ~     February 1, 2012

A Barren County man called to preach more than 60 years ago was called to Heaven early Wednesday morning, Feb. 1, 2012. Brother Kenneth Marvin Grizzle, 84, of Glasgow, served as pastor at Grider Memorial Baptist Church since April 1954. Saved in 1942 as a 15-year-old boy, he was called to preach in 1951 and preached his first revival in July of that year at Bristletown School. He was ordained into the ministry at Mt. Pleasant Church, the church he grew up in, in May 1954, a month after he had been called to Grider. Eight years later he added Mt. Pisgah Church where he served until December 1971. He also preached at Kirby Grove for nine years, at Savoyard from 1969 through 1977 and at Allen Grove from 1976 to May 2000. He regularly preached at revival services in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.

Brother Grizzle also reached numerous people who listened to his Sunday morning radio services for more than 60 years on WKAY, now known as WCLU-1490. He had planned to make Sunday’s service his last one because of recent health problems and his role as a devoted caregiver for his wife Emogene, who survives. Their 64^th anniversary was Monday, Jan. 30.

A recent visitor at the hospital asked him which was his favorite Bible verse. Despite being gravely ill, he responded quickly, “All of them.” He spent countless hours serving and visiting church members and friends in the hospital. He conducted an untold number of funeral services which included many for people who had no family members. He offered to help anyone who needed it. A strong-willed man, he kept family and friends entertained with a seemingly endless array of jokes and stories that he rarely told a listener more than once.

He was born on March 28, 1927, the son of the late Ruth E. Houchens Grizzle and Harley Grizzle. He was also preceded in death by a brother Raymond Grizzle.

As a child of the Depression Era, he never attended high school but his life experiences and faith helped shape his conservative values. Although he did not have a formal education, his mind was sharp and he could quote scripture with quick recall and accuracy.

His favorite hobby was reading his Bible. He was an avid American history buff, with a particular interest in the Civil War and Gen. Robert E. Lee and valued his collection of Bibles and related books and his history books. He also enjoyed gardening.

Brother Grizzle served 18 months in the U.S. Army in the Philippines in World War II. He worked as a mechanic and carpenter in addition to preaching.

He once said the best thing he ever did for his parents was build them a house, something he did again about 11 years ago for his wife.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grider Memorial Baptist Church with burial in Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

In addition to his wife Emogene, he is survived by two daughters, Dianna Perkins (Melvin) of Horse Cave and Sandy Adams (Bob) of Bowling Green, a son Phillip Grizzle of Glasgow; eight grandchildren, Shawn Perkins (Debbie) of Glasgow, Gina Huff (Shawn) of Scottsville, Chad Whittington (Melinda) of Columbus, Ohio, Justin and Clint Whittington of Bowling Green, Nicole Whittington of Charlotte, N.C., Tara Lawson (Jason) of Campbellsville, Matt Grizzle of Glasgow and Andy Adams of Bowling Green; four great-grandchildren and two nieces.