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In Memory Of Our Poets

William Kendrick "Ken" Upchurch, Jr. (1932-2023) - Class Of 1950

William Kendrick Upchurch Jr, of Montgomery, Alabama died March 23, 2023, at the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his parents Eloise Burton and William Kendrick Upchurch Sr, his sister Carol Upchurch Walker, and granddaughter Clare Bowman Campbell.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Anne Bowman Upchurch, his four children, W. Ken Upchurch III (Carol), Elizabeth Upchurch Roberts (Chuck), Carol Upchurch Campbell (Sam IV), and Burton Upchurch Crenshaw (Clay), his nine grandchildren, Coleman Upchurch Crye (Matt), Lucy Upchurch Butler (Alex), Anne Roberts Brody (Ryan), Kathryn Theiss Roberts, Elizabeth Campbell Griffin (Kennedy), Caroline Upchurch Campbell, Samuel Henegar Campbell V (Greer) William Kendrick Ward, Sidney Foster Ward, Elizabeth Anderson Crenshaw, John Clayton Crenshaw, and his nine great-grandchildren.

Ken graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1950 and Georgia Institute of Technology in 1954 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. After graduating he returned to Montgomery and began working with his father at W.K. Upchurch Construction Company, Inc. where he served as Chairman and CEO until 1997. After retiring, he became a Construction Consultant, Mediator, and Active Arbitrator with American Arbitration Association Construction Panel, retiring in 2022.

Ken joined First United Methodist Church in 1955, where he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Administrative Board, and Board of Trustees and President of the Alabama West Florida United Methodist Foundation. He was inducted into the Georgia Institute of Technology Engineering Hall of Fame in 2000 and the AGC-Alabama Construction Hall of Fame in 2007. He was an active member and Rebel Chapter Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization, and a member of the Chief Executive Organization where he and Anne made many lifelong friends.

A devoted civic leader, he served as director of the Capital City Kiwanis Club, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Montgomery Rotary Club, Montgomery Water and Sewer Board, and the Montgomery Area United Way. He also served as President of the Central Alabama Branch of AGC and Brantwood Children’s Home. Following retirement he devoted his many skills to the Fix-It Shop at the First United Methodist Church.

He loved his caregivers, Candice Brown, Lillie Young, Carla McCullough, Tracey Wilhelm, Tonya Bachelor, and Tina Morgan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Clare Bowman Memorial Garden or The Respite Ministry both of the First United Methodist Church, 2416 West Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, AL 36106, or the Jackson Hospital Foundation, 1725 Pine Street Montgomery, Al 36106.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, March 26, 2023, in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church at 3:00 pm. There will be no visitation at this time. Private interment will be held at the Clare Bowman Memorial Garden.

Posted online on March 24, 2023

Published in Montgomery Advertiser

https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/obituaries/mad077490