Calling(s)

Sunday, September 04, 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Trinity Church United Methodist, 229 South State Street, Kendallville

Service

Sunday, September 04, 4:30 PM Trinity Church United Methodist, 222 South State Street, Kendallville

Obituary

Kenneth John Stark, 93, of Kendallville, died Sunday August 28, 2016, at Visiting Nurse Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

He is survived by his brother Dale of Cowpens, SC, son and daughter-in-law John and Lynn Stark, of Fredericksburg, VA, grandchildren Dexter and Ben, and by son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Ann Stark of Peoria, IL, and grandchildren Elizabeth, Caroline, and Stephanie. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sharon Lee (Aldrich), and a granddaughter, Sarah Aldrich Stark.

Born July 15, 1923, to John T. and Helen (Kutina) Stark, in Galion, OH, Ken was raised in Cleveland, OH. After attending Western Reserve University in Cleveland his freshman year, he entered the US Navy and received further schooling at Purdue University and Columbia University in New York. He received his commission as an Ensign entering WW-II. After serving 10 years in the Navy, predominantly on destroyers, he resigned his commission as a Lieutenant and moved to Tucson, AZ, where his brother and mother resided.

Ken joined Mountain States Bell (AT&T) while working on his degree at the University of Arizona and met Sharon L. Aldrich at the Trinity Presbyterian Church singles group. They were married on June 28, 1958 and then moved to Phoenix, AZ where John (1959) and Paul (1961) were born. They then moved to Colorado where Ken finished his schooling and received his B.S. in 1968 from The University of Colorado, Boulder.

In 1968 Ken left the phone company and the family moved to Kendallville where he purchased Taylor's Shoe Store. Over the years, he expanded Taylor's and opened The Shoe Rack, The Jean Shop, and a Baskin Robbins, all on Main St. in Kendallville.

Ken was active in the local chapter of Rotary International, serving in multiple offices and volunteering regularly in their service projects. Along with Sharon, he was also very involved in their church, Trinity United Methodist, serving on many committees, boards and other lay positions.

Ken sold his businesses in 1991 and officially "retired" after his first two grandchildren were born, only to get a part time job at Walmart. During his long retirement he and Sharon added the Friendship Food Pantry and the Mid-America Windmill Museum to their list of volunteer roles. Ken remained an active leader of the Kendallville Economic Development Council through 2015, and played a key role in developing the Kendallville East Industrial Park. Ken was named Kendallville's Citizen of the Year in 1996.

In Ken's spare time, he loved gardening and taking walks, canoeing at Bixler Lake, and his annual escape to Tucson in the spring with Sharon. He also loved having the grandchildren to "Camp Kendallville" as often as they could come, as well as the bi-annual Stark Family Vacations. Ken and Sharon enjoyed many trips to Elder Hostels all over the country on a lifelong quest to learn something new and make new friends.

After Sharon's passing in 2011, Ken remained in Kendallville and kept sharp and fit with his daily routine of exercising with his many friends at the YMCA.

Visitation with family and friends will be held Sunday, September 4, 2016 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Trinity Church United Methodist, 229 S. State Street, Kendallville. The memorial service will begin at 4:30 p.m. following the visitation, with Rev. Chris Stephens officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Stark Family Scholarship fund at Trinity Church United Methodist.

Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com