In Memory of W4AOJ

[N4DLT]

Its with a heavy heart that I announce that W4AOJ has become a silent key this morning. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family here in North Carolina. I talked with Ken a few times during the Gastonia/Charlotte nets that he was a net control station of. You will be missed. 73 W4AOJ de KJ4ENS

[K4GHL]

Ken was a FANTASTIC guy... First time I met him was right after I got my tech license, and heard him on the 145.35 repeater (Gastonia NC) and he was talking about needing an antenna fixed, and that he had asked several folks over the last year to help him, they all said they would, but no one showed up. Well me and my g/f took off the next day and off we went to fix an antenna. Ken hadn't made it out of the house in months, due to one thing or another, and my only deal with him was that he HAD to come outside and look at it, as well as promise me for six months he would work towards walking to the mailbox at the end of his driveway. I kept my word and fixed his antenna, and he kept his by finally making out beyond the mailbox, and even going places with family.

Ken was a very interesting person, he at one point played acoustic guitar and traveled making money doing it. You always knew it was him with his gravelly voice, and in the last two years you could really hear the life come back into it.

Ken, you will be missed by many, your spirit and heart of gold are far from common place, truly a rare individual.

God Speed friend,

Gary



GASTONIA (NC) - Kenneth "Ken" Lucas Sr., 73, passed away July 6, 2011, at his home.

He was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Gaston County, son of the late Rudolph Lucas and Hallie Goodwin Lucas Layle.

Mr. Lucas was an avid Ham Radio Operator and country & western musician.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday at Greene Funeral Service, South Chapel, Gastonia, officiated by the Revs. Ray Priest and Scott Whitener.

The family will receive friends 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday prior to the service at the funeral home and other times at the home of Pat Messer, 1406 Hargrove Ave., Gastonia, NC.

Interment is private.

He is survived by his son and daughter in-law, Kenneth H. Lucas Jr. and Nita of Gastonia; daughters and sons in-law, Angelita L. and Ricky Gentle of Dallas, Cristy Lucas and her fiancé, Rocky Pack of Kings Mountain, Hallie L. and Cory Williams of Minot, N.D.; caregivers, Ronnie and Pat Messer and their family; 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.

Memorials may be made to American Heart Association (http://media2.legacy.com/adlink/5306/1511705/0/3380/AdId=1107323;BnId=1;itime=124906532;ku=1126232;key =AHA;nodecode=yes;link=https://donate.americanheart.org/ecommerce/donation/acknowledgement_info.jsp?campaignId=68&site=Heart&itemId=prod20007&firstName=Kenneth&lastName=Lucas) , 222 S. Church St., Suite 303, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Arrangements are with Greene Funeral Service, South Chapel, Gastonia.

Condolences may be sent to www.greenefuneral.com. (http://www.greenefuneral.com./)

[K4GHL]

7324573246 These are two pictures of Ken W4AOJ that I took a few years ago, when I showed up to fix his antenna's for him. My only demand for payment for doing this was that he had to get out of the house and come see what we were doing. At the time, Ken was hiding in the house for personal reason's, didnt think he could make it outside, and had been there for months without ever going outside. His whole demeanor changed after this visit. His voice became clearer, his attitude got brighter, and within a couple months he said he was walking down the street some. He actually went out and about with his family a little too.... Rest in Peace you old guitar picker... You are missed....