Kenneth Gunn

, Jr.,Kenneth W. Gunn, Jr., 21, departed this life at Elmendorf AFB hospital, on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. He was born at Edwards AFB, CA on Sept. 22, 1990. He was the oldest son and the second child of Kenneth W. Gunn, Sr. and Angela Casteel-Gunn, younger brother to Amber and older bother to Brenton. He was currently a senior attending college at Alabama A & M University, in Huntsville, Alabama.Kenny moved to Alaska with his family in January 1994, following a military PCS move from California. As a child he attended Chester Valley Elementary School and Wendler Middle School. Kenny always had a deep interest in learning, gardening and an inquisitive mind that helped him become an excellent student throughout school. He graduated with honors from Bartlett High School in 2009, where he was a member of the football team, state champion track team, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and National Honor Society. As a senior at Bartlett, Kenny earned several awards that included Best Soloist Jazz Band, Most Valuable Jazz Band Member, the Louie B. Armstrong Award, and the Most Improved Athlete. He received a full 4 year academic scholarship to Alabama A & M University during his senior year at Bartlett, where he has been a full time student, since the fall 2009 semester.He is survived in Anchorage by his family, father, Kenneth W. Gunn, Sr.; mother, Angela Casteel-Gunn; sister, Amber and brother, Brenton; extended family; uncles, Edward, Gregory, Anthony, Michael and Samuel Casteel and Robert Mobley, all of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Richard Ray, of Battle Creek, Mich.; Billy Ray Franklin, of Muscle Shoals, Ala., and Leroy Franklin, of Denver, Colo.; aunts, Loretta Mobley, Linda Casteel, Sherrie Taylor, Druehelen Casteel and Linda Height, all of Chattanooga, Tenn.; scores of cousins, friends and loved ones in Chattanooga, Anchorage and Alabama.Services will be held at Hawkinsville Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, Feb. 2, at Noon. Interment: Lakewood Cemetery.The body will lie in state after noon today at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 423-622-9995.