Kenneth Eato

Services will be streamed on the following link https://fbcsomerset.com/streaming/

Kenneth (Kenny) Eato was born on January 12, 1936 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was the ninth child of the late Alfred and Ruth Eato. He departed this life on March 14, 2021.

Kenny graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1954, where he was a well-rounded athlete who was the captain of the basketball team, earning him All-County and All-State honors in his junior and senior year. He also played baseball and ran cross-country. He received additional education through various management training programs at Rutgers University.

In 1955 Kenny began his career with Easco Aluminum Company, formerly New Jersey Aluminum Company, as a Production Worker. He rose through the ranks as a Foreman, Assistant Plant Manager, Vice-President and General Manager. He was also Financial Secretary of the Local Union of the United Steelworkers of America. He retired from Easco Aluminum in 1989, after 34 years of service.

Kenny worked as a consultant for a year and traveled to Seoul, South Korea and many other destinations during that time.  He then accepted a General Manager position with M.C.S. Industries, Classic Metals Division.

Kenny was a member of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, the Aluminum Extruders Council, the Extrusion Technology Organization, the Paint and Coatings Industry and the New Brunswick High School Alumni Sportsmen Club. 

Kenny received many awards throughout the years, including: the Special Honoree Award from the A. Philip Randolph Minority Economic Development Council in 1988; the Sterling Award for High Achievement and Humanitarianism from the Mack E. Williams Memorial Foundation in 1993; and he was inducted into the New Brunswick High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He served on committees for the Mack E. Williams Memorial Foundation and the New Brunswick High School Athletic Hall of Fame for many years. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey and served on various committees.

Kenny enjoyed watching and playing sports, especially basketball, baseball and bowling. He loved cooking for his family and fixing things around the house. He also enjoyed listening to gospel music, R&B and jazz; his favorite artist was Nancy Wilson. He loved life, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends. Kenny’s presence and smile would light up a room and he had a great sense of humor. He was an amazing man with a loving, cheerful, gentle, kind and generous heart and soul. He feared the Lord, truly did God’s will and spoke God’s beautiful words so eloquently. God had a great anointing on Kenneth’s life.

Kenny married Roberta on October 1, 1955 and they were married for 63 beautiful years.  He was predeceased by his loving wife, Roberta Eato; his parents, Alfred and Ruth Eato and 4 brothers and 5 sisters.

Kenny leaves to cherish his memory, four daughters: Deborah Eato (Tamara Eato), Lorrie Eato-Showell (Velton Showell III), Wendy Eato and Danielle Eato (Joe Ingram); six grandchildren: Derek Harris Jr. (Latiana Harris), Velton Showell IV, Erica Showell, Bryce Eato, Larry Arrington Jr. (Avana Arrington) and Autumn Williams; six great-grandchildren: Keilah Harris, Kristopher Harris, Kimora Arrington, Kaysen Harris, Avant Arrington and King Harris; and a host of family and friends.

We love and miss him with all of our hearts and we will cherish his memory forever.

Love,

The Family

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