Kenneth Lee Gilliam, age 86, of Jackson, passed away early Monday, April 11, 2022, at Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe. He was born March 8, 1936, in Minford, Ohio to the late John Othor Gilliam and Donna Gertrude (Wheeler) Gilliam.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Louise (Sweitzer) Gilliam; children: Robert Louis (Korinne) Gilliam, of Lewis Center, Ohio and Macrina Ann Gilliam, of Canal Winchester, Ohio; stepchildren: Mary (Sweitzer) Doyle, of Wellston, Ohio, Connie Sue Sweitzer, of Willshire, Ohio, Anna Marie (Steve) Barbarits, of Portsmouth, Ohio; grandsons: Jarrod (Kelsey) Gilliam, Kyle Chandler Gilliam, Landon Barbarits, and Garrett Barbarits. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers: Ervin E. Gilliam and Charles Alvin Gilliam and his wife, Dorothy and Harold Richard Gilliam; sister, Ruth Louise (Bowden) (Sayre) Gilliam.
Ken grew up in southern Jackson and northern Scioto County, Ohio. He graduated from Caledonia High School in 1951. After graduation, he worked at many different places as a machine operator until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in April of 1958. He spent one year in Germany and was honorably discharged in early 1960. He worked for the Columbus Ohio Division of Police from 1960 until his retirement in January 1989. In 1985 he married Margaret L. (Margie) Gilliam. After retirement, Ken enjoyed remodeling rental properties until moving back home to southern Ohio in 1993. Since then, he has enjoyed playing golf with friends, his son Rob, and grandsons. He also enjoyed working with wood, restoring old antique pieces of furniture, and making small items, such as small stands, sconces, shelves, etc. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family.
A public visitation will be held Friday, April 15, 2022, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral services will immediately follow at 1 p.m. with Terry Lloyd officiating. The Fraternal Order of Police will conduct a service in Ken’s memory after the funeral. Burial will follow in Beaver Union Cemetery in Beaver. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillum.com