KENNETH W. FISHER
July 31, 1921-Sept. 18, 2017
Kenneth W. Fisher, 96, Goldsboro, quietly and peacefully passed away Monday, Sept. 18.
Ken was born in Gary, Ind., to the late Wilmer G. and Ruth Esther Lee Fisher. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marjorie LeBoeuf Fisher.
Ken graduated from Purdue University.
He then embarked on a long career with 3M, where he worked as a chemical engineer.
Ken was a longtime resident of Bella Vista, Ark.
He was a member of Bella Vista United Methodist Church, and following his move to Goldsboro, became a member of LaGrange First Free Will Baptist Church.
Fun-loving and quite the competitor, Ken enjoyed a good board game or round of bridge. You didn't have to be around him long before he would challenge you to a game of King's Corners, and he usually won.
Ken looked forward to time spent on the water fishing or woodworking in his shop.
Nothing compared to the time and effort he gave to his flowers. A master gardener, he began working in the late 1970s hybridizing miniature tall bearded iris. Through 2016, Ken had introduced 56 new varieties of iris.
The Williamson-White medal had been bestowed upon Ken a total of six times from 1995 through 2010 for his many outstanding hybrids, including "Sailor's Dream" and "Striped Pants."
In 2013 he was awarded the Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding Median Hybridizing. Kenneth's passion for conceiving original and exquisite new flowers has left the earth a more beautiful place.
Ken is survived by two children, John Kenneth Fisher and wife, Marlene, and Carol Hardison and husband, Clifton; granddaughter, Stephanie Fisher Bender and husband, Andrew, and a great-grandson, Maxwell Bender.
A service to remember and celebrate the life of Kenneth Fisher will be held Sunday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. at LaGrange First Free Will Baptist Church, with the Rev. Ronnie V. Hobgood officiating.
Family will receive friends following the service.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com.
Memorials may be made to Cures for the Colors, c/o Southeastern Cancer Care, 203 Cox Blvd., Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Rouse Funeral Home of LaGrange.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 22, 2017 8:05 AM