PRINCETON — James Kenneth “Ken” Hurst, 85, of New Hope Road, passed away at home on Sunday, August 29, 2010. He was born November 24, 1924 in McComas, W.Va. He was a loving and faithful husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rex and Lillie Mae Phillips Hurst; his brother, William A. Hurst of Beckley; and his infant son, Bobby Hurst.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Carol Dove Hurst. His brother, R. Peyton Hurst of Green Valley; two sisters, Helen Bailey of Bluefield and Dorothy Boult and husband James R. Boult of Abingdon, Va.; and sister-in-law, Joann Haynes Hurst of Beckley, also survive him.

His life was made rich and rewarding by a large and devoted extended family:  Michael K. Hurst and wife Kara of Morgantown and their three sons, Robert and wife Sarah, James and Philip; Douglas L. Hurst and wife Sally of Fayetteville and their children Isaac and Mary; Rebecca C. Honaker and husband David of Princeton and their children Kevin Honaker and his wife Monica, Susan Kime and husband Mike, Ami Lester and husband Eric and Josh. He has five great-grandchildren, Alex and Amber Brough, Landon and Gavin Kime, and Jackson Lester. He loved nothing more than spending time with this immediate family and the many other nieces, nephews, and cousins who have remained close despite the fragmenting span of time and distance.

Kenneth was Past Master of Princeton Masonic Lodge #134 and present member of the Princeton Elks Lodge. He worked for Pocahontas Fuel Company, the store division of Consol Coal Company for 38 years. He, in fact, was the last employee of the Consol Company stores and, in the early 1980’s, as General Manager of the Company Stores, oversaw the closing of this chapter in West Virginia coalfield history. He served as a volunteer at the Princeton Community Hospital for the past 15 years.

While we already miss him dearly and mourn his passing, as long as we live we will cherish his wit and wisdom, his devotion to work and family, the countless happy memories and our good times together, and the wonderful example of how to live and love like Christ that he has left with us all.

A service to celebrate the life of Ken will be held Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. from the Burns Wornal Chapel of the Memorial Funeral Directory on the Athens road in Princeton with Pastor Mike Smith and Pastor Daniel Gunnoe officiating. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of the Wildwood Mausoleum of the Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Friends may call today (Tuesday) from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends and family may leave online condolences at www.memorialfd.com. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to the New Hope United Methodist Church, 4257 New Hope Road, Princeton, WV  24740, or Hospice Compassus, 100 Hilltop Lane, Princeton, WV  24740

The Hurst family is being served by the Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center, Princeton, W.Va.