Kenneth Thomas Steele (Kenny), 84

Kenneth Thomas Steele (Kenny) was born on July 18, 1940, in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, to William Robert Steele and Mary Regina (MacDonald) Steele. The fifth of their children, Kenny grew up in a lively household. As a young boy, he excelled in baseball and embraced life in the countryside, enjoying animals, farming, and hunting.

After graduating from West Chester Joint High School in 1958, Kenny had already met Debbie Boyer, who would become his wife eight years later. During his school years, he also formed a lifelong friendship with Phil Neff.

Kenny pursued his dream of becoming a pilot by attending college, balancing an intense schedule of school, work, and rest. He majored in history and spent a semester as a student teacher, earning the affectionate nickname “Mr. Iron” from his students.

After college, Kenny joined the United States Navy. He married Debbie on July 4, 1964, and the newlyweds relocated to Pensacola, Florida, where Kenny began naval flight school. His training continued in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he achieved the milestone of landing a T-28 on an aircraft carrier, which he described as “the thrill of a lifetime.”

Kenny and Debbie’s first duty station was in Patuxent River, Maryland, where they started their family. Their first son, Kent, was with them for only five weeks before passing away. David was born 19 months later, followed by Kim 15 months after that. Kenny served during the Vietnam War, piloting P-3 aircraft to protect the waters around Vietnam. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars.

In 1970, Kenny transitioned to a civilian career, accepting a position as a pilot with Delta Airlines. This new role allowed him more time with his family while continuing to fly. Kenny and Debbie completed their family in 1974 with the birth of their son Chris.

Kenny’s life revolved around his faith, family, and community. He was an active member of New Hope Baptist Church, where he most recently helped create a Prayer Garden at the North Campus. He coached youth baseball and soccer, carefully scheduling his Delta flights to ensure he never missed his children’s important milestones.

Kenny also served his community in elected roles, including one term as Fayetteville City Councilman and three terms as mayor. During his tenure, he contributed to projects such as the first traffic circle in Fayetteville, the acquisition of land for Patriot’s Park, the amphitheater, and the beautification of Jeff Davis Avenue. Kenny also served as President of the Georgia Municipal Association from 2010 to 2011.

After retiring from Delta in 2000, Kenny and Debbie traveled extensively, enjoying time with friends and indulging in his favorite hobbies, including golf and reading.

Above all, Kenny treasured being “Big Daddy” to his seven grandchildren: Anna, Renzy, Mary Claire, Luke, Kathryn, Hayley, and Hannah.

Kenny entered into the presence of Jesus on December 19, 2024, after several years of declining health.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Debbie; his children, David (Tonya) Steele, Kim (Scott) Wilke, and Chris (Mary) Steele; and his grandchildren, Anna Wilke, Renzy (Julia) Wilke, Mary Claire Steele, Luke Steele, Kathryn Steele, Hayley Steele, and Hannah Steele. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his first son, Kent.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kenny’s memory to New Hope Baptist Church or Semper Fi & America’s Fund.

Service Details
A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Mowell Funeral Home, Fayetteville, officiated by Pastor Hugh Kirby. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Kenny will be laid to rest at New Hope Cemetery in Fayetteville.

We invite you to share condolences, thoughts, and memories of Kenny on our Tribute Wall at www.mowells.com.

Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fayetteville