Kenneth Wayne Fortune Sr. (Ken), age 78, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Tallahassee, Florida. He was born in Toluca, N. C. on May 25, 1944.
He was the son of Neal and Ophelia Fortune of Morganton, N. C.Ken moved to Florida and joined the Florida Highway Patrol in 1972.
He met his wife, Jefferson County native, Wanda Rabon, in Gainesville, Fla. They married and moved to Jefferson County in 1976, where they lived and raised their three children.
Ken served with the Florida Highway Patrol until he was appointed Sheriff of Jefferson County by Governor Bob Graham in 1982. He was subsequently elected Sheriff in 1984, and continued to serve the citizens of Jefferson County until his retirement in 2004.
Ken is preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Ophelia Fortune, and his wife of 43 years, Wanda Rabon Fortune.
He is survived by his daughters, Kendra Walker of Monticello (Jason) and Kelli Fillyaw of Monticello (Mike); son, Kenneth Wayne Fortune Jr. of Monticello; sister-in-law, Sharon Boland; brother-in-law, Bill Rabon (Carlene); grandchildren, Kristen, Cody, and Kaylee Walker; Jadyn and Jaret Kinsey; Tori Fortune; and many beloved cousins nieces and nephews.
Ken was a man of faith, a family man, and he also loved his community. He truly believed in the men and women he worked beside and he considered it an honor to serve the state of Florida and Jefferson County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, Fla. 32308.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Monticello. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Monticello. Burial will follow at Oak Field Cemetery.
