Rev. Dr. Kenneth Joseph Foreman, Jr.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Joseph Foreman, Jr. died peacefully at his son’s home in Black Mountain, North Carolina on April 15th,, 2015 at 9:15pm at the age of 93. Preceding him in death was Mary Frances Ogden “Chick” Foreman, and a daughter Carole. Grieving our loss but his gain as he rests from his many and varied labors are the many who knew him as family, colaborer, colleague, and friend. Surviving him are eldest daughter, Dr. Frances Ogden Foreman Fuller and husband Fred Fuller; his sons the Rev. Samuel Lewis Foreman and wife Jan Howard Foreman, and Rev. Joseph Lapsley Foreman and wife Anne Clowney Foreman.  Along with them are his 11 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren who survive him, blessed by his prayers, presence, gifts and service over his 93 years of life.

Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, Dr. Kenneth Foreman, was born in Princeton, NJ, and has labored at home and abroad since his raising in Davidson, North Carolina. His academic preparation began at the Hopkins Grammar School, the 3rd oldest grammar school in America. He attended the Mt. Hermon School, Haverford College, Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Louisville Theological Seminary, Yale, Cornell, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Marrying his affectionate “Chick”, this young, ordained Southern Presbyterian minister in the 1940’s took his bride to the mountain communities around Lansing, North Carolina, where he served as home missionary with evangelistic powers and pastor of the Lansing Presbyterian Church and Stone Chapel where his two oldest daughters were born, the second, Carol, died in childbirth there.  Then he was sent by the Northern Presbyterian Church to Kunming, in South-Western China. Because he was sent there
in the middle of the Communist-Nationalist civil war, Chick and his son Samuel and daughter Frances remained in America awaiting the outcome.  With the victory of the Communists, he was arrested and held from 1949-1953.  At his release, he returned to the States, to be re-commissioned to Korea. He arrived there with his family within months of the Armistice being signed, and Chick 6 months with child.  There he labored as evangelistic supervisor over 100 Korean Churches in South Korea, during that period of history when the Korean Church transitioned from mission to church — from being merely a distribution point of God’s largesse — to becoming a generator of God’s great love, mercy, and grace for a lost and dying world. While in Korea he became an accomplished pilot and flight instructor teaching his 16 year old Daughter to fly, who became the youngest woman in Korea to get her wings.  He returned to the States in 1964 to care for his father
Dr. Kenneth J. Foreman Sr., while earning his Th.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary in Church History. Then he served as the Director of the Historical Foundation for Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Montreat, NC; Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson Mississippi; and Pastor of the Saluda Presbyterian Church in South Carolina. He finally returned to retire in his beloved mountains of Montreat, NC, which five generations of Foreman have called home since 1903.  

Sent by God to proclaim the Word to encourage, exhort and comfort, to invite others to know the Good News Jesus proclaimed and became, to shepherd God’s people, apt and able to teach, Kenneth has sought to equip the saints for ministry, a champion of the widow and orphan, valuing friendship high but integrity higher.  

Called to be a saint, the life of Kenneth Foreman will be remembered and celebrated in Gaither Chapel on April 29th, 2015 at 3:00 pm, followed by a reception at the Presbyterian Heritage Center which in turn will be followed by a grave side service where his earthly body will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Chick in the family plot at Homer’s Chapel Cemetery.    In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Presbyterian Heritage Center at 318 Georgia Terrace in Montreat, NC, would be a fitting tribute: (828)669-6556. This is a ministry which continues the work of the Historical Foundation to preserve and present the history of the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches in the world. It was this ministry that Dr. Kenneth Foreman Jr. gave a lion’s share of his life’s work to establish and preserve.  Dr. Foreman would be the first to encourage you not only to support them financially but to come and visit and see for yourself the wealth of information they have on the Rock from which you were hewn: http://www.phcmontreat.org/.  Remembrances and condolences may be shared through Penland Funeral Home:  www.PenlandFamilyFuneralHome.com.

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