Kenneth Ray Ethridge | March 29, 1939 – September 4, 2022 | Born to Thomas Floyd Ethridge and Lilly May James Ethridge in Garza County.

He was a graduate of Wilson High School and enjoyed playing on the football team. All of his touch downs beginning his Sophomore year of high school were for the love of his life, Mary Evelyn Hammonds (Ethridge), as evidenced by the love notes exchanged between them as high school sweethearts. Mary Evelyn was a cheerleader her Senior year at Tahoka High School, but their romance unknowingly began during their elementary school days. Their families attended the same church, Assembly of God in Tahoka, TX, where they would later marry, and that is where the over 70 year friendship began with Edgar Hammonds, Jr., Mary Evelyn's older brother. As Edgar had his friends over to the house, Mary Evelyn soon noticed that Kenneth was the only friend of her brother who did not treat her as a kid sister, i.e. arm punches, pony-tail pulling, etc. Kenneth was a gentleman to her even at the young age of 11 years old. Nine years later they would marry, June 20 ^th , 1959. Their family grew the following year as Cinda Rene' Ethridge (Payton) was born, the twins came two years later, Marcella Jan Ethridge (Tyler) and Regina Ann Ethridge (Osborne) and finally a baby brother seven years later, Kenton Royal Ethridge. Kenneth joined the Lubbock Fire Department in 1965. Retiring in 1990 as Captain at Station #11,which was specially trained for airplane crash rescue. Kenneth and Mary then moved to Austin, TX for Kenneth to work for the State of Texas Fire Commission. His motivation to work at the state level was spurned by the loss of three firefighters who perished in the 1979 Underwood's Barbeque restaurant fire due to faulty safety equipment in their bunker gear.

Kenneth was appointed to the National Fire Protection Association Committee whose focus was to change legislation requiring departments of paid firefighters be equipped with Nationally approved bunker gear. This was accomplished and Kenneth retired twelve years later and they moved to Post, TX to be nearer friends and family.

Kenneth is survived by his 'Luv' of sixty-three years, Mary Evelyn Ethridge, the twins and their spouses, Phil Tyler and Tom Osborne, and son Ken and wife Wanda. Many grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, brother and oldest daughter, Cinda Rene' Payton.

Family will receive visitors Thursday September 8 ^th 6pm to 7pm at Hudman Funeral Home in Post, TX | Services Friday September 9 ^th 1pm at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park in the community of Woodrow in South Lubbock.