Jimmy Kenneth “Ken” Holloway
Jimmy Kenneth “Ken” Holloway, 87, of Signal Mountain, passed away at his home on Monday, December 5, 2022.
Ken was born on Signal Mountain to the late Luke and Aline Holloway. Ken was proud that his family was part of the first settlers and founding pioneers of Signal Mountain.
Ken is probably best known for his work at the Mountain Opry Show. The traditional country bluegrass and gospel program was held every Friday night beginning in September, 1979 at the Walden Ridge Civic Center on Signal Mountain and ran for over four decades. Ken was there for the first show and kept the Opry open until COVID hit. Ken was dedicated to the Opry’s mission of preserving our bluegrass and traditional musical heritage, and hosted the last show on March 28, 2020.
Ken worked for years at Brown Brothers Hardware on Signal Mountain, Sears in downtown Chattanooga and Chattanooga Glass Company.
Holloway retired and then in 1985 found his new calling in broadcasting. Ken started the daily “Country Show” on WDOD AM and hosted the “Sunday Night Picking” for several years featuring Gospel and Bluegrass Gospel music. He also hosted Southern Gospel music every day on WDOD known as the “Sunshine Hour”. From 1985 to 1990 Holloway helped organize a half dozen live Mountain Opry radio programs broadcasting over WDOD. Ken also hosted radio programs for WSDQ in Dunlap.
Ken was a longtime member of Wayside Presbyterian Church. In recent years Ken started attending The Point Church at Signal. Ken was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved his family and was very proud of his grandchildren. He was mechanically inclined and could fix anything.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Bill Holloway.
Ken is survived by his loving wife of almost 69 years, Thelma; children, David (Kathy) Holloway, Donnie (Macel) Holloway, Tom (Modina) Holloway, and Karen (Tim) Brewton; grandchildren, Scott (Kelly) Holloway, Mike (Brooke) Holloway, Anna (Blake) Woody, and Sarah Holloway; great grandchildren, Katelyn and one on the way.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, and 9-10 a.m. on Saturday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.
Services for Ken will follow at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the North Chapel with his friend Earl Freudenberg conducting the service. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.