Kenneth Edward Herring, 85, passed away peacefully at his home on June 17, 2026. He was a kind, devoted, and family-oriented man who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Kenneth met the love of his life, JoAnn Currin, during the summer before entering the ninth grade. He attended Appalachian State University before leaving to serve his country in the United States Army. Military service ran deep in his family, as his father served during World War II and his brother also served in the Army. During a two-week leave from boot camp, Kenneth proposed to JoAnn. They were married on February 12, 1961, and were blessed to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Throughout their years together, they lived in several places before making their home in Sanford, North Carolina. After leaving the Army, Kenneth worked alongside his father in the insurance business. He later worked as a Service Writer at Wilkinson Cadillac until his retirement. He also proudly volunteered with the Tramway Fire Department for many years, serving his community with the same dedication he showed throughout his life. Kenneth was a faithful, serving member of Shallow Well Church, where he especially enjoyed singing gospel music with the Living Water Quartet. He treasured time with his family, loved trips to the beach, mountains, and never turned down an occasional round of golf. He was a wonderful storyteller who delighted family and friends with tales of his many adventures. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewitt and Maggie Herring; his brother, Franklin Herring; and his beloved dog, Buddy, who held a special place in his heart. In addition to his beloved wife, JoAnn, Kenneth is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Watson (Johnny); his son, Kenneth Edward Herring Jr. (Jennifer); his three grandchildren, Alex Watson (Krista), Ashley Hall (Ted), and Blake Herring; and his two great-grandchildren, Hayden and Piper Hall. Service will be held at Shallow Well Church on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The service will be officiated by Reverend Donald Thompson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Shallow Well Church , 1220 Broadway Road Sanford, NC 27332