Kenneth E. "Sock" Hartsock's Obituary
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}Bluegrass BeginningsKenneth E. Hartsock, “Sock,” was born in a small town in the bluegrass state of Kentucky. Born in Traveller’s Rest, Sock was “pure country” according to his family. Raised in a poor household, Sock developed his work ethic early, making fires on his way to school for a nickel. Fun times were spent lounging and playing in Sturgeon Creek with his cousins. Sock remained a “character from a place with character” until he was twenty, when he enlisted in the US Army, following the tragic death of his mother. Sock served his country during the Korean War, and was stationed in San Diego, California, and often visited Tijuana, Mexico for “R&R.” However, Army life was not for Sock, and he attempted to get kicked out by getting several tattoos, only to find himself well “inked” and in trouble. He remained in the service, and after 4 years, Sock received an honorable discharge. Westside “Stalker”After being laid off from his job at Peterbilt, Sock helped a friend start the West Side Cab Company in Newport, Kentucky. While there, he attracted the attention of a young lady who lived above the West Side office. She was pulling out of her driveway, and he jumped into the backseat of her car and informed her that he wanted to take her out. Betty thought the man lived on the streets, but after he repeated this process on a few other occasions, Betty shared her concern with her roommate by asking, “Why aren’t you helping me when this stalker is harassing me?” With laughter, her roommate informed Betty that the man was in fact not a “stalker,” but a really nice guy who worked at West Side, and she should take up his offer – so she did. After the first date, she swore not to go out with Sock again – but she did. Two months later, he told her he was being recalled to Peterbilt and asked her to move with him to Tennessee. She then informed him, “I’m not going unless we’re married!”, and they did, enjoying 39 beautiful years together as a married couple! Betty commented that the two of them were the best thing that ever happened to each other. The Silly Side of SockSock had a great sense of humor and was always up to something. For starters, Sock, nicknamed by his colleagues at Peterbilt for whom he worked for 26 years, had a nickname for everyone. His family included nicknames such as: Whoopers, Oink-oink, Wop-wop and Smokey; he had no problem referring to them as such in public settings. His granddaughter remarked, “Try playing softball when you are about thirteen or fourteen and you hear: ‘Go, Oink-oink, do it girl!’” Beyond the nicknames, Sock was also famous for his catch phrases. His family and friends all laugh to recall the numerous times they were told, “You’ll eat it or you’ll wear it!” or “You’re dumber than a flat creek rock!” His antics sometimes were at the expense of others, but always in fun. On one occasion, he took out an unloaded flare gun just to get a reaction from Betty, who was terrified of them. He tied the unloaded gun to her loving dog Tiger who thought it was time to play, so Tiger chased her down the street – and Sock laughed! The Extended FamilyWhile dating, Sock informed Betty that they were going to meet his children from a previous marriage, which ironically sparked a very positive friendship with Sock’s first wife. Together, Sock and Betty had another child, and family remained the most important element in Sock’s life. Each of his children benefit from their father’s humor, his nicknames and special phrases, fun social outlook, hard work and his strong discipline. Even as adults, his children were well aware that “dad” was in charge. His children recall, “If he was upset or disappointed in you, his glasses seemed to slide to the tip of his nose. He would look at you over them or start counting with his pinky finger, but he never judged. He would simply ask: ‘Did you learn your lesson? Ok, move on and don’t do it again.’” Sock’s Joy’sTo Sock, family was the greatest joy in life. Even when travelling, Sock and Betty preferred to have the company of family with them whenever possible. They enjoyed Las Vegas, Florida, the Hawaii and cruises. Also included were Sock’s four-legged companions. Sock had several dogs, but was closest to Trixie. Friends often joked that Sock treated Trixie better than Betty. That was not the case, but Trixie and the other dogs certainly did not lack attention. If Sock was getting take out from a restaurant, there was always an extra meal ordered for the dogs. On one occasion, Sock and Betty were meeting family in Gatlinburg for a holiday. Upon arriving late in the evening, Sock was informed that his dog was not welcome in the hotel. So, Sock left his family there to meet the others, and took Trixie to another hotel for the night! SupermanOne son referred to Sock as Superman. “No one has ever measured up to my dad.” Sock was the backbone of the family and maintained a strength that held them together. Only once did his son notice a “crack” in Superman’s armor. That occurrence was at the funeral of Sock’s other son. Sock’s life contained many tragic losses: his mother, daughter, son, grandson and a granddaughter. However, Sock continued to “move on,” just as he had encouraged his family to do. He taught them all to be strong, to never give up, and to never make the same mistake twice. Placed to rest in his jeans and shirt, “as he wished to be remembered,” Sock leaves behind a legacy of strength. Kenneth E. “Sock” Hartsock passed away on January 9, 2013. He was preceded in death by his son Alford Hartsock; daughter Kay Hartsock; grandson Bo Tomlin; and granddaughter Charlene Tomlin. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Betty Jane Hartsock; children Rosa Billiot, Debbie Matthews, Jamie Hartsock, Emma Matthews, and Laura Hartsock; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
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