Kenneth Lloyd Plants, 57, of Blythewood, died Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Born February 25, 1958, in Ashtabula, Ohio, he was a son of the late Robert L. and Jeanne Goode Plants. Ken was a retired flight medic with US Air Force Reserve 315th AES Wing. He served in Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and was deployed in Haiti in the 1990's. He was a member of the VFW and held a private pilot's license. Ken was employed by the Department of Defense at Fort Jackson as a paramedic for over 25 years, was a volunteer fireman with the Richland County Fire Department, and taught at the SC Fire Academy. He was also a member of Windsor United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Foster Plants of Blythewood, SC; son, Joseph R. Plants; and daughter, Jessica A. Plants, both of Columbia, SC; three step-sons, Rev. Zachery W. (Brittany) Braddock of Nashotah, WI, LCPL Ian S. (Kayla) Braddock of Cherry Point, NC, J. Alexander Braddock of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Colson and Olivia Sangster, Braxton Leazott, Claire and Edward Braddock; brothers, David L. (Kimberly) Plants of Conneaut, OH, James A.(Denise) Plants of New Port Richie, FL; sisters, Martha A. Bogdon of New Castle, PA, Dorothy L. (Patrick) Ziemer of Cleveland, OH, Nancy L. Piltz of Ashtabula, OH; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

The service for Mr. Plants will be held 12:30 o'clock, Friday, May 15th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Extension, Columbia, with The Rev. Fr. Paul Sterne and The Rev. Zachary Braddock officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 11:30 o'clock. Burial will follow at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Ste 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256.