Kenneth William Faulknier, 97, of Marlinton passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital surrounded by his children.
Born on March 21, 1929, he was the youngest child of the late Guy Richard and Josephine Frances Faulknier.
He was a faithful Christian and lifelong member of the Marlinton United Methodist Church. After a brief illness, he was ready to go to his heavenly home.
Kenneth graduated from Marlinton High School in 1949. He joined the U.S. Army April 12, 1951, and was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for six weeks of military training. In June, he arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany, and then went to Sandhofen, Germany, to receive his orders. From there he boarded a train to La Rochelle, France. While he was in France, he traveled throughout Italy during a 10-day furlough and shared those stories with his family. Upon his completion with the U.S. Army, he spent 14 days on a ship back to the United States and arrived on Staton Island, New York, where he was officially discharged from the U.S. Army on April 5, 1953, as a private PFC. On October 25, 1953, he married Wilma G. Hiner in Mountain Grove, Virginia. Kenneth and Wilma were blessed with four children, Debbie, Teresa, Richard and Carol.
Kenneth began a long career working as a meat cutter with A & P Company. He spent 25 years with the store until it was sold to Fas-Check in 1979 and he continued working for another four years with them. He bought into the Western Auto Store with his brother-in-law, Hunter Hiner, and managed the store until the flood of 1985. Kenneth worked for the U.S. Forest Service for approximately five years. In 2003, he began working for the Town of Marlinton. He shared the vision of his father who helped develop the Mountain View Cemetery and oversaw the upkeep. He was passionate about keeping the cemetery looking its best. He was honored to place the flags on all the veterans’ graves for the Memorial Day Service.
Community service was important to our father. He was a volunteer with the Marlinton Fire Department for more than 25 years and served as the Assistant Fire Chief during part of his tenure. His church and church family were so important to him. He was very active serving on the Board of Trustees, General Board for oversight of the parsonage, participated in Sunday School and many Bible studies. His love of the Kid Rock Program was a great joy to him.
Daddy, as we always called him, was a wonderful carpenter. He was proud of his workshop and spent numerous hours designing and building treasures for family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Guy Merle, Marion, Kathleen Walker and Mary Frances Barlow; his wife, Wilma Faulknier; and daughter-in-law, Elaine Faulknier.
He is survived by his children, Debbie (Tony) Rinaldi, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Teresa (Henry) Neal, Gauley Bridge, Richard (Harriet) Faulknier, of Marlinton, and Carol Childers, of Cross Lanes; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his special friend and neighbor, Becky Perry.
The family is grateful for the care and compassion provided to our father at Pocahontas Center and Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.
Visitation will take place Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. with a memorial service at 2 p.m. at Marlinton United Methodist Church.
Interment will immediately follow the service at Mountain View Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers donations may be directed to the church.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” Revelations 21:4.
