Kenneth Lee Followell of Bradenton, Florida, died on Sun., Aug 27, 2023, after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He passed peacefully in his sleep as he had wanted.
Followell was born in Gary, Indiana, on May 20, 1958, to Ken Followell, Sr., and Patricia Followell. He attended elementary school there. His family later moved to Crown Point, Indiana, where he attended middle school and high school.
He was known for being helpful and kind in his youth.
He went to Milligan University in Johnson City, Tennessee. He studied psychiatry and Biblical studies receiving a double major bachelor's degree. Followell completed one semester of seminary training at Emmanuel Seminary, also in Johnson City.
He met the love of his life, Vicky Hughes, at college in 1977. They married on May 24, 1980.
Ken was a man of great faith.
He loved live theatre whether his interaction with it was on stage, backstage, in the light booth or in the audience. He participated in at least 30 productions.
Ken was an advocate for social justice - especially for men and boys that had experienced sexual abuse. He spent nearly 20 years fighting for this cause. He was the first recipient of the Howard Fradkin Award of Meritorious Service from the Male Survivor organization, which is a service organization supporting male victims of sexual abuse. Followell was the U.S. president of the international organization for 12 years.
Ken was a loving person, a fabulous husband and he fought hard for justice.
His motto was, "Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, 'What?! You too! Thought I was the only one,'" which is a quote from Clive Staples Lewis.
He received numerous awards and commendations as an IT professional with Spectrum, where he worked for 19 years. Before that, he was self-employed as a computer services technician. Prior to that, Followell worked for a mortgage company.
The last few years of his life, Followell was a vegetarian. Vicky often roasted a variety of vegetables including carrots, potatoes, snap peas, mushrooms, squash or whatever else was "in season" and covered them with olive oil, salt and pepper and other seasonings to be served with rice and siracha.
Beginning in their 40s, the couple began to travel the United States extensively. They visited nearly all 50 states with only Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota missing from the list.
Ken and Vicky attended Broadway shows for ten years. They would stop at the TKTS booth (a half price distributor of last minute show tickets in Times Square) to purchase a matinee. After watching that show, they would "run" back to TKTS to select evening shows. Ragtime was Ken's favorite Broadway show. They also saw the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade while in New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Vicky Hughes Followell; his brother, James Followell of Waveland, Ind., and his sister Lynn Wood (Jim Wood) also of Waveland, Ind., and his nieces, Kristin Followell of Waveland, Ind., and Kaitlyn Wood (Mikey Wood) of Bloomington, Ind., and great nieces, Jasmine Thomas and Taylor Thomas, both of southern Indiana, and a great-great niece, Sophie Thomas, and his mother, Patricia Followell of Bradenton, Florida.
A memorial service is being held on Sat., Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. at Faith United Church of Christ located at 4850 State Road 64 East in Bradenton, Florida, 34208. Reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, Followell's family has asked that monetary donations to be made to the social justice causes that Ken supported. These include Male Survivor, Men Healing and Taking Back Ourselves.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
