Kenneth P. Smith

Kenneth P. Smith, 68, of Newark, DE was born October 22, 1948 in Carlisle, PA and died as a result of an accident on Friday, April 7, 2017. Ken always took pride in helping his country through his 35 years of work as an aerospace and defense contractor for the government and in the private sector. Anyone who knew Ken was aware that he leaves a legacy of joy, love, and laughter “ often at his own jokes before he could deliver the punchline. He enjoyed finding a connection with everyone he met and could fall into easy conversation with anyone in any circumstance. At the center of his life was his profound love for his family. He adored his wife of 43 years, Pamela K. Smith, or as he liked to call her, Panida. Ken was an engaged and committed father who could never bear to discipline his children, Jennifer Smith Freymoyer and Andrew B. Smith, preferring instead to coach their sports teams, teach them something new, comfort them in sadness, or bore them in hours of detailed explanations of the newest technology. Fortunately, he found a captive audience in his grandchildren, who he also trained to address him as O Great, Wise, and Wonderful Grandfather of Mine. His six grandchildren (Gabriel Kenneth, Ainsley, Eli, Maggie, Joseph Lloyd, and baby due this July) inherit Ken’s love for good food and complex cooking techniques, his interest in engineering and science, and his playful spirit and childlike wonder of the world. He treasured his close relationship with his sisters, Judy W. Culp and Betty J. Visser, with whom he spoke daily. In addition to the survivors listed above, he is survived by his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth M. Smith; son-in-law, Jason D. Freymoyer; brother-in-law, Don Culp; mother-in-law, D. JoAnn Barr; and brothers-in-law, Robert C. Barr and his wife, Jane and Steven Barr and his wife, Beate Ritz. A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, May 20, 2017 at the Newark United Methodist Church, 69 E Main St, Newark, DE. Memorial contributions can be made to The Battle Buddy Foundation, 8859 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd, Suite 202, West Chester, Ohio 45069 or by visiting www.tbbf.org.