of Oriskany, VA

April 6, 1929 - February 22, 2025

Kenneth Ray Bass, 95, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 22, 2025 at his home near Oriskany, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jossie Evelene Cullum Bass and a great granddaughter, Meredith Elmore.

Surviving are his children, Ronald Bass (Ann), Esta Elmore (Thomas) and Kenneth Dwayne Bass (Anna-Marie); grandchildren, Laura Bass Smith (Jason), Christopher Dane Bass (Christie), Weston Bass (Erica), Marinda Bass Haga (Andrew), David Bass (Liesel), Andrew Bass (Catherine), Daniel Elmore (Tonya), Julie Elmore Eldridge (Brian), Amber Elmore Whitlow (Buck), Rebecca Elmore Burton (Christopher), Emily Elmore, Sara Marie Thredgold (Cameron), Kenneth William Bass, Anna Yvonne Cannell (Nick); great grandchildren, Brandon and Krista Smith, Sierra, Collin and Cecily Bass, Ian, Genevieve, Penelope and Elliott Bass, Austin and Gavin Haga, Emelie and Charlotte Bass, Elias and Olive Bass, Jacob Elmore (Melody), Brenna Elmore, Quinten and Ryan Garrison, Bryce and Kate Eldridge, Madison Ribble (Tiger), Evan Poindexter and Owen Whitlow, Chloe, Annalise, Zachary, Olivia, Ella and Asher Burton, Amyiah, Josiah and Jayda King and Adrian Elmore and great-great grandchildren, Ryker and Layla Thompson.


He was born April 6, 1929 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but grew up around Shirley, Arkansas. He married Evelene Cullum October 9, 1946 in Clinton. He moved to Virginia from Arizona in 1968 and has since lived on the 'farm' near Oriskany, except for a few years as a truck driver based in Florida and later in Roanoke. Kenneth had no father to help raise him, but he had many good relatives who taught him right from wrong, to work hard, never curse and have faith in God. He served his country as a Corporal in the U.S. Army, 1946 to 1949 and was awarded the WWII Victory medal and Army of Occupation-Italy medal. He was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1951 at Muskegon, Michigan and was a faithful member of the church from that day forward. He was a very kind and caring husband and father and friend of the many who knew him and always tried to do as Jesus taught, to love one another and looked out for the interests of others more than the interests of himself. He was a humble man who never boasted of himself and looked to forgive others.

He worked as an electrician aide building Liberty Ships as a teenager in California, as an electrician in the Army, engineering aide for Thiokol aerospace, computer programmer for General Electric Co and long-haul truck driver. He had a natural aptitude for engineering and figuring out how things worked and how to fix them when they needed to be repaired. He was an accomplished carpenter and totally rebuilt his house from the foundation to the rooftop. 'Hard working' is how some would describe him and he was active his entire life. He loved to tell stories and corny jokes.

In his own words: ''I don't know why I have been blessed so much, but I thank Heavenly Father every day for giving me such a good family to be a part of now and for all the good relatives that helped to raise me in my youth and childhood. I could not have wished for anything more and I want more than anything for these relationships to continue into the eternal life that I know is real.''

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 28, 2025 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019 by Bishop Kevin Newby.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025 at Huie Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas.

To express condolences online please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clinton

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