The Story of Reverend Kenneth Dale Gore, Sr.
The story of Reverend Kenneth Dale Gore, Sr., began in Monaville, Logan County, West Virginia, on December 15, 1934, when he was born to Willis and Belva Meeks Gore. Ken grew up on the East Fork of Twelvepole Creek in Dingess, WV, along with his siblings, Howard, Imogene, Irma, Marilyn, Ivan, and Marvin, all of whom preceded him in death.
As a young man, Ken began a nineteen year long career as an equipment operator for Grey Eagle Construction, laying natural gas pipeline throughout much of southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Afterwards, he worked as a coal miner, sixteen years for Kermit Coal Company, and five years for Marrowbone Development Company. He loved working on his job. He would often say, “You don’t got to work. You get to work.” He had an avid love for old cars and old antiques. He amassed quite a collection.
As a young man living in Grey Eagle, right outside of Kermit, West Virginia, Ken began to attend the Grey Eagle Church of God, where he was gloriously saved at an altar of prayer during one of their revival services. It wasn’t long until Ken began to feel the call of God upon his life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ken received his first rank of ministry in the Church of God denomination on August 25, 1961, as an Exhorter. He became an Ordained Minister on December 30, 1963. He was pastor of Ragland Church of God from 1960 to 1962, pastor of Lenore Church of God from 1962 to 1967, pastor of Pie Church of God from 1967 to 1969, and pastor of Naugatuck Church of God from 1969 to 1972. After a short hiatus, Ken started the Inez Church of God in 1974, built the church house that currently stands, and pastored there until 1980, when he left to start the Wolf Creek Church of God in the “Boogie Palace”, a place that had obviously been used for something else previously. Shortly thereafter, Ken built a church house at one of the intersections of road on Wolf Creek. He left Wolf Creek in 1989 and began pastoring the East Fork Church of God, near his childhood home. He pastored there until 1994. He began pastoring Warfield Church of God in 1996 and remained the Senior Pastor there until the day of his passing.
Brother Gore, as he was affectionately known by so many countless parishoners, was a true pioneer in the Church of God movement, having started five churches in eastern Kentucky, and building three church buildings that still stand, Inez, Wolf Creek, and Boones Camp, near Paintsville, Kentucky. During his pastoral ministry, Ken preached several thousand sermons, led countless souls to repent of their sins and serve the risen Savior, baptized hundreds in water, saw numerous souls receive the pentecostal phenomenon of being baptized in the Holy Ghost, added many members to the church, and officiated a multitude of weddings and funerals. His impact on the communities which he served will be felt for much longer than any of us will ever realize.
On August 24, 1957, Ken married Oppy Bernice Davis at the Grey Eagle Church of God. Their 63+ years of marriage has produced three children, Beverly Carol Workman, Kenneth Dale Gore II, and his wife, Helen, and Patricia Lynn Bostic and her husband, Mike, all of Lenore, West Virginia. Ken loved his grandchildren, Tabitha Michelle Workman, who preceded him in death, Brad Nicholaus Workman I, and his wife, Mallissa, of Lenore, West Virginia, Whitney Alaina Blalock and her husband, Randy, of South Williamson, Kentucky, David Christopher Gore and his fiance, Katlyn Keene, of Lenore, West Virginia, and Kenneth Ryan Gore and his wife, Andrea, of Lenore, West Virginia. Ken also has been blessed with four great grandchildren, Brad Nicholaus Workman II, Savannah Paige Workman, and Alissa Grace Workman, of Lenore, West Virginia, and Bryson Lee Blalock of South Williamson, Kentucky.
On Tuesday morning, March 23, 2021, Reverend Kenneth Dale Gore, Sr., heard the Master of the universe, his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, call him home to the great city of Heaven, and he heard the words we all should long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Ken is survived by not only his afore mentioned family, but also nieces and nephews, extended family and in-laws, as well as countless souls who have been forever impacted by the solitary life of one man, Kenneth Dale Gore, Sr.
The family will receive visitors on Thursday, March 25, 6-9pm, at Chattaroy Church of God, 548 Buffalo Creek Road, Williamson, WV. Funeral services will be held at the church on Friday, March 26, at 1pm, with Rev. Mike Bostic and Rev. Robbie May officiating. Burial will be at Mountain View Memory Garden at Maher, WV. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. In response to the COVID-19 virus, all attendees are required to wear face mask and practice social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to Warfield Church of God for flood relief. Mullins Family Funeral Home is honored and privileged to be serving the family of Kenneth Gore.