John Kenneth Spence

John Kenneth “JK” Spence departed this world for the other side of the rainbow on Saturday, October 3, 2026. JK was born May 10, 1963, in Huntington, WV. He joins those who have gone before him, including his father, John E. Spence; his grandparents; aunts and uncles, his musical family, Ada, Jim and Andy McCown of The Outdoor Plumbing Company; and his beloved fur kids, who were surely ready and waiting for their daddy to arrive. JK leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Barbara and Sherrell Smith; his beloved wife and most favorite adventure partner, Renee Spence; his daughters, Marie, Amanda, Nicole and Trista; and his bonus son and daughter, Dan and Veronica Bowen. He also leaves behind a whole lot of grandchildren: Jayla, Zuri, Aleerah, Lyric, Alisha, Haley, Johnnie Payton “PJ,” Cheyanne, Levi, Kayla, Nate, Cameron, Travis, Hazel, Aubrey “Hatchling,” Emily, Coleson, Cori, and Hay Hay; and his great-grandchildren, Kyler, Jameson, Nevaeh, Cassius, and one more little one on the way. JK was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as an air cargo specialist. He was retired from the Local 80 Insulators Union of Winfield. JK was also a proud lifetime member of the NRA and a beloved member of Camp A.G. Jenkins #628, Sons of Confederate Veterans, where he leaves behind a multitude of folks that he cherished tremendously. Summers were spent with his brothers of the North-South Skirmish Association, where he will forever be remembered among his unit, the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. These friendships, traditions, and the time spent together meant the world to JK. JK touched an incredible number of lives with his ability to see the world not simply as it was, but as he believed it should be. He leaves behind a legacy of love and friendship that is bigger than he ever could have imagined. There are simply too many people he cared deeply for to name each and every one. The very tip of the iceberg includes the teens who would see him at events and football games and light up with a smile or a high-five, making him feel special in return. His bandmates of Fr8 Train, who shared years of music and were on a mission with him to help the world dance. His special friend Tom Nixon, who spent many a day sitting on the front porch with him, solving the world’s problems. And his special “daughter,” Traci Ann, whom he found through music and loved dearly over the years. Some of his longest musical friendships were with childhood friends Kevin Williamson, Ed Price, and Rudy Rohr. His lifetime friend Danny Beckley was truly like a brother to him. His buddy and most trusted confidant, Jack Hicks, was among his dearest relationships. He also leaves behind treasured cousins who were much more like sisters and brothers, including Drew Clark, whom he loved like a son. Many of his childhood friends truly became and remain his family. And then there are all the rest of you - the people who crossed JK’s path, shared a song, sat around a campfire, swapped stories, laughed with him, danced to his music, or simply spent a little time in his company. Please know this: JK loved you. You mattered to him, and you helped to make his life what it was.

JK sought the Lord, and he loved to study the Word alongside his wife, Renee. He enjoyed talking and thinking about the deep stuff - the things that aren’t black and white or easily answered. His faith in God was his own, and he never seemed particularly interested in fitting it into a neat little box. There is no better way to honor JK than to come together and rejoice in the life he lived, and the eternal life that he now enjoys.

He will be honored with a gathering of family and friends at Reger Funeral Home in Huntington, West Virginia, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. All of JK’s musical friends are encouraged to bring their instruments to help send him off in a way that would make him smile. Immediately following visitation, his Celebration of Life will begin at 7:00 p.m. His ashes will be interred at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, in Dunbar, WV at a later date, where he will receive the final honors befitting a veteran. Until then, keep the music playing, keep telling stories, and every now and then, just sit on the porch and take it all in.