Kenneth Farnsworth

Kenneth Jackson Farnsworth, age 90, of Toronto, Kansas passed away Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Wichita, Kansas.

Ken was born on July 24, 1929, in Glazier, Texas. He was the sixth of seven children born to Albert Owen and Vera Adel (Stone) Farnsworth. The family moved to Iola, Kansas in 1943 where Ken graduated from high school. On June 18, 1950, he was united in marriage to Derilda “Dee” (Greg) Farnsworth. This union was blessed with five children. They first made their home in Iola where Ken began his career with Scott’s 5 & 10. Over his thirty-year career his work with Scott’s took Ken and his family to several places, including Russellville, Arkansas and Mission, Texas. Following his retirement Ken and Dee moved to Maize, Kansas. After Dee’s passing Ken made his home in Cheney, Kansas for over 25 years. In 2016 Ken moved to Toronto, Kansas to be near his daughter and son-in-law.

Ken and Dee enjoyed many dances together at Piqua, Kansas. He loved the outdoors, in his younger years he especially enjoyed fishing and camping. In his later years he found a great deal of solace in bird watching. He loved seeing that rare bird, even at 89 years old. Throughout his life he enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with friends and family. Ken would not need to be persuaded too much to get in the car to go gambling. He and his sister, Wilma, enjoyed many trips together crossing the United States. A book on wine making turned out to be a fateful birthday gift. Ken started small but eventually he experimented with almost anything that he could ferment. In his quiet times you could almost always find him reading or working on a jigsaw puzzle.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dee; three daughters, Beverly Walters, Judy Vaughn and infant, Roberta; two brothers, Donald and Wesley; and three sisters, Norma, Wilma, and Vesta.

Kenneth is survived by two daughters, Cheri Darbe and husband, Max and Pamela Holt and husband, Brad; two sisters, Doloris Endsley and Winnie Kimbel; son-in-law, Steve Vaughn; nine grandchildren, Avery, Jeremiah, Michelle, Jennifer, Michael, Angela, Thomas, Emily, Erin, and their families which include 20 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Kenneth also leaves behind many friends that he loved and enjoyed.

A memorial service for Ken will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Hwy 54, Iola, Kansas. The family will greet friends following the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt, Kansas. Memorials in honor of Kenneth are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and may be left with the funeral home. Condolences for the family may be left online at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .