Kenneth Hightower

Kenneth Hightower, 70, of Leesburg passed away December 26, 2021, born July 7, 1951 in Fort Benning, GA. Ken's childhood involved many moves within military posts with his favorite being Germany and seeing Europe. After his father retired, the family moved to Orlando with Ken being active in Boy Scouts, achieving the Eagle Scout Award. After high school, he applied for Army enlistment to Vietnam, having been a military buff all his teenage years, and enrollment into radiology training as he wanted to know what was inside frogs, bugs, and animals. After recruitment testing, he qualified for the medical battalion and in Jacksonville signing over his life, he was contacted he had been accepted to radiology school with top honors. Ken truly was devoted to his profession of 40 years and obtained registered radiology technologist in all fields. Favorite activities included boating and exploring back canals along the St. John's River, photography, military history, collecting rare stamps and coins, music was a passion, playing guitar, carpentry. One day Ken's wife returned home from work to find a kitchen wall gone because he decided to enlarge the room, and then there was finding the sink and toilet missing because he got the urge to remodel the bathroom. All replaced to perfection. After moving to Asheville, NC, in 2000 hiking became a passion with no hill too high. If too steep to stand up we reached the top crawling and came down on our behinds, seeing scenes only God could create. Moved back to Florida in 2008 after retirement. Ken was predeceased in death by his constant companion dog KenLee and parents, Eugene and Sara. Ken is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kathryn, daughters Tricia, Kimberly, Britten; loving brother Cleve, estranged sister Annette Tracy of Winter Springs, and special nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 7, 2022 at 2pm at DeLand Memorial Gardens Chapel of Peace, with a visitation from 1-2pm prior to the service. Allen-Summerhill DeLand is in charge.