Kenneth Lee Levingston

Kenneth “Ken” Lee Levingston, vibrant, generous, and loving, died of an apparent heart attack in his home Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Ken, 44, a descendant of established Louisiana families was an energetic local businessman and family man.

Born July 26, 1971 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to David Levingston and Rebecca Levingston (Hill), Ken was a longtime resident of Lake Charles and established business owner. He graduated Barbe High School in 1989 and studied business at Louisiana State University. His education was on-going as he read and studied numerous subjects including politics, commerce, religion, and—perhaps most passionately—sports. Even at the early age of six, he was the first to grab the morning paper to read the baseball stats.

Ken pursued various business interests, and after being a stockbroker, representative for Central Payment and mortgage broker at People’s Home Mortgage, he with his brothers established Lake Charles Vapor. He was active in the Chamber of SWLA and West Calcasieu Association of Commerce and was a member of Vineyard Church of Lake Charles.

Ken was not just a sports fan, but a zealous student of the game—all games. A childhood meeting with Dodger’s manager, Tommy Lasorda spurred a life-long love for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He similarly backed the LA Rams, LA Kings, and, most zealously, his home state team—the LSU Tigers.

The guitar played yet another part in Ken’s life. Whether performing his compositions or the pop tunes of others he was the confident life of the party, for Ken, as everyone knows, did not enter a room, he owned it!

Ken is survived by his wife of two years, Wendy Levingston of Lake Charles; daughter, Rebecca Elizabeth Levingston of Sulphur, Louisiana; mother, Rebecca “Becky” Hill of Acworth, Georgia; two brothers, Ryan Levingston and Paul Levingston with his wife Sherrie, all of Lake Charles; nephew, Gabriel Levingston; grandmother, Cleada Butts of Kennesaw, Georgia; step-children, Tyler Paul Thomas and Chelsey Thomas; and step-grandchild, Maliah Thomas. Ken’s life was filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved him like a son and brother, as well as many friends from across the country who already miss his big-hearted spirit.

He is preceded in death by his father, David Levingston, of Lake Charles, his grandparents, Ernest and Kathleen Levingston of Lake Charles, and grandfather Mitchell Butts of Kennesaw, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Vineyard Church, 9541 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles, LA 70605 (www.vineyardlc.org), Momentum Church, 659 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, Georgia 30188 (www.alder.nowsprouting.com), or the McNeese Foundation Kathleen and Ernest Levingston Scholarships, P. O. Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609 (www.mcneesefoundation.org).

Reverend Kelly Vigo of Vineyard Church will officiate a service at Johnson Funeral Home at 10:00 AM Tuesday, April 26 with burial in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation is at the funeral home Monday April 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Visitation continues at 9:00 AM Tuesday until the service.

Pallbearers are Jeff Nobles, Jonathan Lonidier, Ben Lonidier, Shannon Rider, Kevin Pearce, and Steven Veneble.