Reverend Ernest Kenneth Kulp

The Reverend Ernest Kenneth Kulp, 91, finished his race on July 19, 2026, supported by family and his Faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Born in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 29, 1934 to Lawrence E. and Edna Mae Kulp, Ken lived his formative years there, where he was a 1953 graduate of St. Petersburg High School. Ken went on to attend Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky and graduate with his Masters in Divinity from Emory University.

Prior to his graduation from Emory, he took a ministry position where he served Armuchee United Methodist Church as a Student Local Pastor. Ken was invited to be the speaker for a week-long revival at Lindsey’s Chapel UMC in Cedartown, Georgia where the young lady playing the piano caught his eye and his affection. Blanche Rutland Kulp became his wife and companion in ministry for 61 years. Their marriage was founded on the Rock of Christ Jesus, and this foundation withstood all of the storms. This was the start of many years of serving as a pastor to congregations in Woodbury, Hogansville, Tenth Street (Atlanta), Rock Chapel (Lithonia), Conyers, Wesley Chapel (Decatur) and Marietta. He retired from ministry in 1998, but found that the Lord had more for him to do. After retirement, he served Hollydale, Kresge and Chapel Hill UMCs for 8 more years.

Throughout his life and ministry, Ken was a lover of people. His passion was to demonstrate the love of Christ to everyone. Through various divorce recovery and bereavement groups, along with spiritual renewal retreats, named Walk to Emmaus, many people found faith in Christ and went about living lives as new creations because of what the Lord had done through these ministries. His love for Christ and for people also led him to be deeply invested in missions around the world while serving at Marietta First UMC. Ken’s family was very important to him. Today, he leaves behind a legacy of two faithful sons: Robert Kulp and his partner, Josh Ehm, of Alpharetta, Georgia and Michael Kulp, his wife Barbie and two grand kids, Jack Kulp & his wife, Kate Kulp, of Atlanta and Caroline Kulp & her fiancé, Chase Enix, of Statham, Georgia. Ken also leaves behind his sister, Maribeth Carran, of Largo, Florida. Extended family includes his sister-in-law, Lynda Statham Rutland. He was also blessed with many nieces and nephew that gave him great joy. As hard as it is to say goodbye, the family’s comfort comes from knowing that Ken is reunited with his wife, Blanche, his brother-in-law, Guy Rutland, Jr. and his oldest son, David Kulp, who preceded him in death in 1978, a loss that reshaped his ministry and relationships with people.

If you stopped to talk with Ken during the last two years of his life, you most certainly heard him tell about jumping out of an airplane at the age of 80 to raise money for the Murphy-Harpst Home and about what he decided to do on his 90th birthday. He would jokingly say that though it was not as racy as skydiving, joining a ukulele band was just as much fun. The Oldies But Goodies Ukulele Band, which is housed at Wesley Woods in Athens served to give dad life in the pursuit of learning to play a new instrument and a stage on which to perform and make people laugh.

Ken’s last five years were spent living at several independent and assisted living facilities and serving as a faithful member of Athens First United Methodist Church. A deep debt of gratitude goes to Wesley Woods of Athens and Arbor Terrace of Athens and to the Cornerstone Sunday School Class at Athens FUMC. All loved him well and gave him great joy.

Funeral services for Rev. Kulp will be held at Athens First United Methodist Church on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm. It will also be live streamed at https://vimeo.com/showcase/sunday-service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center at 740 Fletcher Street Cedartown, GA 30125.

The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Reverend Ernest Kenneth Kulp.