Kenneth Edward "Buster" Cummins Sr.

Kenneth E. “ Buster” Cummins Sr. of Williamstown, Kentucky, passed away early Sunday morning, August 11th, 2024 at the Grant Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Williamstown at the grand age of 102 years old. He was born in Neave, Kentucky on Tuesday, June 27th, 1922 to the late William Edward and Elizabeth Mae Cummins. In addition to his parents, Buster is preceded in death by two of his siblings: Mary Margaret (Harold) Fortner and Cecil (Loretta) Cummins; a daughter, Janet Gayle Lee; a grandson, Tyler Cummins; and his wife of over 60 years, Velma Blanche Fortner Cummins.

As a teenager, Buster began working early on in life for a local grocery in Crittenden driving a ‘rolling store’ truck where he managed the sale and deliveries of goods to local customers around the county. He later tended bar at the Woodland Inn in Walton until at the age of 20 when he answered the call of duty to join the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Across Europe and throughout 5 campaigns, Buster’s skills at driving a truck were utilized to haul munitions to the front lines as the war progressed. After the Allied’s victory, he was honorably discharged from the corps where he was awarded 5 bronze stars for his service.

Once returning home from the war in the 50s, Buster drove a dump truck hauling gravel for the Greater Cincinnati Airport when it was first established; as well as working on the line at Fisher Body in Norwood, Ohio manufacturing car bodies for a number of years. Though he worked tirelessly at many careers throughout life, in his heart Buster was always a farmer and avid fox hunter. For over 40 years he grew tobacco, raised beef and dairy cows, and hunted foxes on his beautiful expanse of land. Eventually with age, he turned the reins of the farm over to his son Kenny, but he was never too old to lend him a hand and help with any of the work that needed to be done.

Buster’s love of driving extended throughout the entirety of his life, not only in his careers, but in his free time as well. His favorite thing to do was get in his truck and drive; driving well into his 90s, he loved visiting and keeping up with everyone, often stopping along the road to catch up with anyone he encountered along the way. Throughout the years, one could often find Buster at the McDonalds in Dry Ridge or Crittenden, sipping coffee and conversing with friends, or out at the t-ball fields cheering on the kids. He was a long-term faithful member of the Sherman Church of Christ, a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, and in his youth, enlisted as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Buster was a man who truly lived his life the way in which he wanted to, one who didn’t back down and continually carved a path of his own. He instilled this within his children and all the generations down the line, it is through them that his legacy will live on. Buster is survived by two daughters: Joyce (Larry) Haubner of Dry Ridge, Kentucky and Lisa (Tom) Cummins of Cincinnati, Ohio; his son, Ken (Cynthia) Cummins Jr. of Dry Ridge, Kentucky; as well as four sisters: Pat (David) McNay of Florence, Kentucky, Janette Colson of Georgia, Garnett (Wilbur) Hutchinson of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, and Sue (Jerry) Hopperton of Louisville, Kentucky. He leaves a lasting legacy of his grandchildren: Zoe (Christian) Lee, Nicholas (Cheryl) Cummins, Ryan Cummins, Ashley (Jason) O’Nan, Kendra (Danny) Rigney, Arthur Wayne (Art) Haubner, Connie (Dennis) Gray, Douglas (Kimberly) Haubner, and Jeffrey (Rachel) Haubner; as well as numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren. Buster dearly loved each and every one of his grandkids, they were a constant source of happiness and his joy in life, brightening his days beyond measure whenever they came to visit.

A funeral service for Buster will begin at 1:00PM on Monday, August 19th, 2024 at the Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home in Williamstown, Kentucky. A visitation will be held beforehand at the funeral home from 11:00AM-1:00PM. Following the funeral service, a burial with full military honors will be rendered at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown beginning promptly at 2:00PM where Buster will be laid to rest with his beloved Velma and alongside his fellow veterans.