Kenneth Wayne Poore
June 19, 1939 – June 5, 2019
Kenneth Wayne Poore, of Richmond, Va., died on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at home. Ken was born in Norfolk, Va. on June 19, 1939.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Millard E. and Margaret B. Poore, sisters, Joyce P. Smith and Doris P. Parrish. Ken is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Ann Hutchison Poore; sons Anthony Kirk Poore (wife, Lisa Magrill), Jonathan Blake Poore (wife, Alexandria Germanis), and Ross Jennings Poore; his grandchildren Zachary Davis, Taylor Kaye, Aida Margaret, Patrick Blake, and Jacob Stuart, and Mia Isabel Poore, and their mother, Christina Poore; brother, Millard B. Poore (wife, Carolyn), brother-in-law, Edgar Smith, sisters-in-law, Shirley L. Morrow, Bettie Horcher, Eleanor H. Hornberger and Bonnie Hutchison Fleming; brother-in-law, Richard L. Hutchison (wife, Anita); and, countless nieces, nephews, and friends. Ken graduated from John Marshall High School and through the Corps of Cadets, developed life-long friendships.
He received his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He worked for Harland Bartholomew & Associates; founded K.W. Poore & Associates, Inc., Urban Planning, and was in business 30 years doing what he loved throughout Virginia and surrounding areas. Ken was an accomplished artist and won numerous awards at various art shows. He was a member of Derbyshire Baptist Church for 41 years and most recently, New Community Baptist Church. His many loves were spending time with his family at Virginia Beach, golf with his friends, and Virginia Tech sports.
A Memorial Celebration will be held at 1:30 pm on Sunday, June 9, at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Pkwy, Richmond, VA 23294 with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org or a charity of your choice.
It’s hard to believe he isn’t here on earth anymore…he filled every room with SO much brightness and laughter. Uncle Kenny always had a smile, a hug and a kind word to say to me. There is never enough time with the people that are so special to us. Thinking of you Aunt Ann, Blake, Kirk, & Ross. (& my dad, grand kids, extended family & friends) Sending loads of love and hugs your way! xoxo ~Lisa
Our sympathy to Blake & Ali from Anne & Garnett Hall / Long & Foster – Grove Office
Uncle Kenny will be missed terribly, he always gave the best hugs and always had the sweetest smile on his face when I saw him. We are praying for you Aunt Ann, Blake, Ross, Kirk and all of the family and love you very much.
The Lovings
Lifelong friends of the Farrar’s. Wow, we love you all Poore’s and grieve your loss. Blessings to Ann, Kirk, Blake, Ross …. in our constant thoughts and prayers. Gary, Michelle, Carson & Cole
So sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. What a fine person he was. Rick and I have all of you in our prayers. Ann, I will be by to see you soon.
MY CLOSE FRIEND FOR OVER 66+ YEARS. What a void he leaves in my heart.Oh how I’ll miss him.My prayers and thoughts are for the family.
I love and miss you Ken you were like a father to me rest in peace my uncle and friend bless. Your family at this time and always will be in my heart love you guys
My deepest sympathy to Ann and children of Kenny
, I didnt know him well but recognization of such a wonderful, caring individual was immediate when meeting him. He leaves a deep void in his community and family.
Gonna miss you uncle kenny love ya sleep peaceful see you in the next life fly like the falcon you drew
Ann and Family,
Being the person who has had the responsibility of carrying on Ken’s legacy from K. W. Poore & Associates to Community Planning Partners and now as a part of Summit Design and Engineering Services, I know how great an impact Ken had on many communities across Virginia. I have very much appreciated the opportunity to build on that legacy. My sympathy and God’s blessings during this time of loss. I unfortunately have a weekend obligation that I can’t get out of and will miss the funeral service. Ann, once the dust settles, come down to the office and we can reminisce (easy to do since some of Ken’s work and art still hangs on the walls) and I will take you to lunch.
Craig Wilson
Dear Kirk, Ross, and Blake,
I’m so sorry you have lost your dear father. Such a sad time for your mother and entire family; I know he will be missed everyday by so many people.
Sending love and prayers to you, Dougie Barradale
Prayers for Ken’s family and friends. He had a great influence on communities throughout Virginia and mentored many community planners. He leaves a great legacy.
Ken Poore was a great leader, a dedicated professional, and a best friend.
Virginia is a much better place because of Ken. His fingerprints are all over this state, from the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap. Ken worked with the communities most in need, making them into destinations where we would all want to go and where we would be proud to live. I will always be grateful for the team spirit with which Ken approached community building, and for the lessons we all learned from Ken’s visionary skill at applying grants for transformation of place, and of the human condition. I hope that his legacy will be understood, and that all of us will continue to make Virginia a better place because of all we learned from Ken.
Heartfelt regards to Ken’s family, to all of the KW Poore and Associates family, and to all who had the pleasure and benefit to work alongside Virginia’s Gentleman Giant in the field of Community Planning and Development.
I am so sorry to hear of Ken’s passing but the eloquent words of my old friend David Hill ring so very clear and true. I was one of those mentored by Ken very early in my career and I have never forgotten my time spent in his employ. Ken was always a bit bigger-than-life to me, and I mean that in the best way possible, and I was amazed by his community planning visions, leadership skills and artistic talent. As David said, Ken chose to assist those smaller, rural communities that were in most need of someone with his unique talents and skills, and he had a huge positive impact in so doing. Even now it is hard for me to fathom that Ken has left this earthly realm but his legacy will long be remembered by all those who were touched by him, both professionally and personally.
Kindest regards to all Ken’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Ken and I go back more than 50 years with all his many projects in greater Southwest Virginia both with HB & A, and later via his own firm. The people in this region admired and trusted him thoroughly, and, and as consequence, kept giving him more work.
Yes. A great guy who will be sorely missed.
I feel so blessed having been one of the fortunate people who Ken employed and mentored. He allowed me to be associated with his firm for 25 years until my retirement. Ken and Ann were always so kind and thoughtful towards me making me feel a part of their family. I learned so much about community development from Ken and feel honored to have been a small part of his vision and tenacity to improve people’s lives throughout the Commonwealth from providing standard housing, adequate utilities, and job creation through industrial development and downtown revitalization. Ken was certainly a force to be reckoned with but possessed a generous heart and soul. Ken was not only my employer and mentor but a father figure and a dear friend whom I respected and will miss very much. I am thankful he was surrounded by Ann, Kirk, Blake, Ross and other loving family members as his health deteriorated. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
My dear Ann and family I was so sorry to hear of Kenny’s passing. I have such memories of many fun times with Kenny and the rest of the family when we all gathered at Grandmother and Granddaddy’s house for all holidays. Kenny even as a little boy had a smile that filled a room with joy. He was always so kind to us younger kids and made sure he gave each of us one of his special hugs. Ann God bless you and may the good Lord bring you peace and love during this hard time. I am heart broken I will not be able to be with you on Sunday but the doctors will not let me drive that far as of yet as I am recovering from having 5 stents put in my heart but I will be there in spirit and send my love to everyone. God bless you. Love Mary
Blake, I am so sorry for your families loss. The few times I met your dad, he made an impression. He was so outgoing and easy to talk to. I am sure you all will miss him very much. Please let me know if Ben and I can do anything for your family. You will be in our prayers.
Dear Ann, Bob and I want to send our deepest condolences to you and your family. Hoping that memories will help you through this grieving period and know that Kenny is at peace. I’m so happy that we have one if Kenny painting to remind us of what a great artist he is. Much love to you.
What I will remember most about Ken and I am sure most would agree is all of the tom foolery and antics that he seemed to be up to all of the time. He always seemed to have a smile on his face only you didn’t know if he was up to something or just in a good mood. So you had to stay on your toes. Lots of Love to Anne and my Cousins and keep Ken’s smiling face in your memories as I will by remembering the good times that he gave many people
This past week I learned that my former boss Ken Poore passed away. 19 years ago he hired me at K.W. Poore and Associates, Urban Planning & Community Development firm. I had just left Kinko’s, now Fedex Office and was looking for a design job. I knew nothing of Urban Planning but he needed someone with hand drawing, graphics and model skills. We were a small office but the reach of his firm stretched across Virginia and the work the firm performed helped many throughout the years. There are many clients to this day who still remember the name Ken Poore and the meaningful work accomplished though the CDBG grants, Downtown Revitalization, Comprehensive Plans, Boundary and Annexation processes, Redevelopment Plans and so much more. I met many wonderful people within the firm over the years and while the majority have moved on from the firm Ken started, I am sure that their work now, has been and is still influenced in some way by Ken. He and his wife Ann have always been a part of my family’s life since the day I started there, and we will be forever grateful for the opportunity that he gave me that has since become a career. I will remember the annual beach house trips to Ken and Ann’s place in Virginia Beach, the nights of finishing CDBG grant applications until the wee hours of the morning on the day they were due, the Thanksgiving lunches and Christmas dinners, and the other numerous activities the staff at the office participated in. And while K.W. Poore and Associates is no more, since Ken’s retirement, the work that Community Planning Partners, now a part of Summit Design and Engineering, has done will be forever felt here in Virginia. Thank you Ken for giving me a chance 19 years ago and our thoughts and prayers go out to your entire family in this time of mourning.
Anne you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. The fun, laughter and love you and your family shared with Ken is not always as present in many families, but that is not the case for yours. We hope those treasured memories will bring you and your family great comfort in this time of loss.
Patsy, William and Rodney Layne
Blessings to Ken’s family from his friends in Smithfield. Ken was a true gentleman who made such a positive impact on so many communities here in the Commonwealth. Thank you and God bless you.