Kenneth Eugene Vann

October 7, 2021

Kenneth Eugene Vann was born on January 23, 1958 at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Ken passed away on October 7, 2021 at his Marietta home. Ken was the beloved first son of Martha Harden Vann and Thomas Junior Vann. Ken was blessed to have such wonderful and loving parents. Ken knew how much they loved him and he loved them right back, right up to the end. Ken got a baby brother, Gregory Alan, in 1962. The family was complete when little sister, Rebecca Elizabeth, was born in 1968. Ken was always protective of his little brother and sister, even when they didn’t know about it. One of Ken’s most tender qualities was his love for animals. Even as a child, he loved pets. He was very devoted to his first dogs, Daisy and Lassie. He called himself their “Daddy” even though he was a little boy. He even kept a rooster as a pet, much to his parents’ dismay. Ken’s love of animals was a constant throughout his life and included both dogs and cats. Ken was also very mechanically inclined. He was always fascinated with taking things apart and putting them back together. Amazingly, he could fix broken things and even build things when he was around 9 or 10 years old. Ken was very industrious. As a young teenager, Ken got a job at Mason’s lawn mower repair shop. Ken loved working independently. As an adult, Ken went into the copier repair business and was self-employed for many years. Even before he was old enough to drive, he got an old 1947 Ford to work on as his “project”. He loved to work on that car then move it up and down the driveway. After Ken was old enough to drive, he bought a red 1972 Ford Grand Torino. Ken absolutely loved that car. He spent so much time washing and waxing that car, it’s a wonder the paint didn’t come off. The Torino was a member of the Vann family for decades – he finally sold the car to a friend around 2016. Ken never gave up his love of cars. Ken married Gina Bennett Vann at the age of 20 and became a very young father at the age of 21. Their wonderful surprise was his curly headed lookalike, Kenneth Ashley Vann. Ken and Gina were later blessed with another beautiful son, Brannon Thomas Vann. Ken was always so proud of both of his boys. He bragged that his sons were so smart and talented. Ken loved that Ashley and Brannon were both that rare combination of “book smart” college material but also gifted at “building and fixing” things. Ken often said how he was so thankful that his sons had such a wonderful mother like Gina. Ken was predeceased by his beloved son, Kenneth Ashley Vann. Ken is survived by wife, Tamara Vann; parents, Thomas and Martha Vann; son, Brannon (Katie) Vann; grandsons Oliver and Landon Vann; brother Greg (Stacy) Vann; sister Rebecca (Willie) Polston; mother of his children, Gina Vann. Survivors also include two nieces, Jessica and Jennifer Vann; nephew, Dalton Polston; a host of many uncles, aunts, cousins and dear friends.