Kenneth Allan Markell

WADESBORO - Mr. Kenneth Allan Markell, 84, of Chapel Hill passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at Richmond County Hospice Haven in Rockingham surrounded by the love of family.

Kenn was born May 23, 1942 in Michigan and was a son of the late Joseph Ira Markell and the late Anna Mae Sopp Markell. He served in the National Guard. He worked with horses before pursuing a career in truck driving from which he retired.

He suffered a massive stroke in 2024, which required that he have skilled nursing care and in mid 2025 he reconnected with his stepdaughter, Heather, made arrangements for him to move to Anson Health and Rehab to be closer to her and her family. He had another massive stroke that he couldn’t survive.

Kenn had an infectious smile and he made family throughout his life in the people he met and they were deeply loved by him.

He leaves behind his best friend Bruce Collins & family and stepchildren Heather Matthews Edwards and Howard Mathews and their families.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister, Jack Markell and  Betty Jean Shehane and by his step-daughter, Becky VanOordt 

There will be a memorial service at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Lystra Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC.

The family is most grateful to the staff of Anson Health and Rehab for all they have done for Kenn while he was a resident there and most recently to Richmond County Hospice and the Staff of the Hospice Haven for all they did during his time of transition.

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com