"Big Ken" Kepley

Mr. Kenneth Richard “Big Ken” Kepley, age 63 of Concord, passed away unexpectedly Saturday June 17, 2023.

Ken was born April 20, 1960 in Cabarrus County and was the son of the late Richard William Kepley and Maxine Newton Kepley. He was also preceded in death by a nephew, Garrett Denson.

He is survived by his son, Ken “Lil Ken” Kepley, Jr. of Kansas; sister, Linda Kepley Penninger; brother, Rick Kepley; nieces, Courtney Hogan, Whitney White, and Kristina Hardin; nephews, John Hardin, and Max Wike.

Big Ken graduated from Northwest High School in 1978. He fell in love with wrestling and football and excelled in both while at Northwest. He attended Appalachian State and was on the wrestling team there. In the 1990’s and 2000’s, he was the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach at Northwest. He then went to work at US Air, and with the Hardin family at the Cabarrus Inn.

Big Ken left everlasting memories to so many people, especially all the kids’ and parents’ lives he touched through coaching and mentoring athletes and students. He was dearly loved and will be missed by so many.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday June27 from 6 to 8pm at Wilkinson Funeral Home.