By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
CHINA GROVE ó A Lentz Road man died Friday after being run over by his own tractor.
A neighbor discovered William “Trent” Kemp, 81, after the accident, Rowan County Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford said.
“Apparently he hit some kind of rut or possibly ran over something,” Sifford said.
Kemp fell off the tractor, which then ran over him, Sifford said.
Kemp’s family held services for him Monday. Daughter-in-law Theresa Price said he was very much loved.
“This house has been nonstop with the best friends, neighbors and family,” she said from Kemp’s Lentz Road home.
Kemp was born in Jefferson and educated in Ashe County Schools. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Margie Crawley Kemp; son Jerry Price and his wife, Theresa, of Gold Hill; sister Gaynelle Kindley, of China Grove; and two grandsons, Matt and Jason Price.
Theresa Price said her father-in-law loved to work outdoors. He was always in the yard, he planted trees and he tended his garden.
“He loved his vegetables,” she said.
Kemp also gave away vegetables, sharing them with fellow members at First Baptist Church in China Grove.
He also helped teach Sunday school and visited the sick.
Price recalled Kemp taking a family member to the hospital, sitting with that person and then returning them home.
“He would do anything for anyone ó neighbors, church members,” she said.
His grandsons’ friends were very fond of Kemp. They were all pallbearers at his funeral, she said.
Kemp had retired from Cannon Mills, where he worked in the weave room in Plant 1. He was buried at West Lawn Memorial Park on Monday.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.