Dr. Kenneth Marvin Dean, age 82, passed peacefully to his home in heaven on Saturday, March 26, from his home in Tooele, Utah. Dr. Dean is survived by his bride of 61 years, Martha Jo (Fortner); daughters Elizabeth Copeland (Richard), Tooele; Lois Lane (David), Land O’ Lakes, Florida; Deborah Richards (Charles), Tampa, Florida and Karol Watkins (Nathan), Staten Island, New York; sons Kenneth (Dilek), Chattanooga, Tennessee and Jonathan (Jesse), Stockton, Utah; sister Mary Van der Zwet (Thomas) of Kearneysville, West Virginia; brothers Paul (Shirley, deceased), Staunton, Virginia and David (Vaida), Waynesboro, Virginia; 22 very loved grandchildren and 27 precious great-grandchildren. Dr. Dean was preceded in death by his parents; son Daniel David; grandson Benjamin Richards; brothers Edward, James Earl Jr. and Robert and sister Dorothy Blankley. Kenneth was born Feb. 18, 1934, in Washington, D.C. to James Earl Dean and Sadie Marie (Demarr) Dean. He graduated from Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, Maryland, where he was a member of the FFA, played soccer, competed in track and field and wrestled. His intention was to become a farmer. Kenneth loved to read. Coming in from the fields at age 15 to cool off, looking for a comic book or western to read, and finding none he hadn’t already read, he picked up his father’s Bible and began reading the book of Matthew. While reading chapter four, he saw that Jesus was God and he trusted Jesus as his Savior. This would change the course of his life and the generations to come. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). Kenneth loved to spend time in the scriptures, memorizing whole books of the Bible. He went on to become a Bible scholar, learning biblical languages and the truth that he would spend the rest of his life teaching and preaching, reaching people all over the world with the love of God and the Gospel of peace through Jesus Christ. He met his sweetheart, Martha Jo Fortner, at Oxon Hill Baptist Church in Oxon Hill, Maryland, when he was 17. They enjoyed serving the Lord together even as teenagers, with the two of them singing together while Martha played the piano, and Kenneth preaching afterwards. They went to Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, graduating and getting married in 1954. They returned to Maryland where they started two churches, Allentown Road Baptist Church, Allentown, Maryland and the Independent Baptist Church of Clinton, Maryland, along with a Christian school, Independent Baptist Academy. Kenneth and Martha Jo had the honor of being present when each of the churches celebrated over 50 years of ministry. They moved to Dallas, Texas in 1963 with three daughters, where Kenneth attended Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating with a masters degree in theology. While there he pastored Henderson Memorial Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. They moved to Tampa, Florida in 1971 with five children and Kenneth was a professor and the dean of Providence Bible College in Riverview, Florida. Kenneth pastored Open Door Baptist Church in Thonotosassa, Florida during those years and they had two more sons. They relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1975 where Kenneth and Martha both taught at Tennessee Temple University. Kenneth earned his doctorate in theology from TTU, graduating with highest honors. He was also awarded a doctorate of divinity. He pastored Open Door Baptist Church in Rossville, Georgia during those years. They were called back to Winston Salem, North Carolina, where he and Martha Jo both taught at Piedmont Bible College. In 1990 they ministered at First Baptist Church in Escalante, Utah for the summer. They grew to love Utah and the people of Utah and God called them to come back to Utah in 1995. They moved to Tooele, Utah, where Kenneth pastored Cornerstone Baptist Church for 14 years until his health deteriorated. He loved to sing “Jesus Led Me All the Way,” the story of his life. Jesus led him and Martha Jo on quite a journey, serving Him and others. They taught us the joy of serving Jesus and strengthened our faith as God supplied their needs through the most difficult times when they prayed and trusted their all sufficient Savior. Kenneth was a man who loved unconditionally, and served his friends and family wholeheartedly. He loved to be in the kitchen making 1-2-3 biscuits and “grandpa gravy” and baking cookies, pumpkin and pecan pies for Martha and any visitors who dropped in, and there were many. Kenneth loved to talk about Jesus and the Bible with those who wanted to and was always ready to play a game with Martha and the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was so fun and funny and his infectious smile and laughter will be so missed. He was always working on learning something new. There were always language books in his bedroom and bathroom: Arabic, Turkish, Hungarian, Greek, Japanese, he wanted to learn them all. One of the last things he said was encouraging us to always be learning, especially in the word of God. He was a man of prayer, always thanking God for His goodness to us. He encouraged us to not only pray to God, but to listen for God’s voice. He loved to sing “In the Garden,” especially the chorus that says, “And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am his own.” He is face-to-face with Jesus today walking in heaven’s beautiful garden. He’s been reunited with his son, Daniel, and his grandson, Benjamin. His favorite verse was Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We look forward to a glorious reunion with Kenneth in heaven, enjoying life together again at the final resurrection and gathering together of all those in Christ. We want to thank our Pastor, Tim Wilson, and Canyon Hospice, especially Cherylynn and Ellen, for their loving care of our daddy and momma. We invite you to honor and celebrate Dr. Kenneth Dean’s life with us at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 276 E. 500 North, Tooele, UT 84074. The viewing is Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and 11 a.m. on Friday. The service will be at noon on Friday followed by a graveside service at Tooele City Cemetery. Services provided by Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Parlor and Undertakers of Grantsville, Utah. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.daltonhoopes.com.
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Dr. Kenneth Marvin Dean
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