1931
Kenneth
2018
Kenneth Barnett, Sr.
April 26, 1931 — March 22, 2018
Kenneth C. "Ken" Barnett, Sr., of Exton, PA and formerly of West Chester, PA passed away on March 22, 2018.
Born in New York, NY in 1931, he was the son of the late Julian "Jay" Lester and Phyllis (nee McKay) Barnett. Ken was raised in West Hartford, CT and attended The Loomis School, a boarding school in Windsor, CT. After high school, Ken's family lived for a time in Havana in pre-Castro Cuba, where he met his future wife, Martha Bell White. Martha's father worked for the United Fruit Company and her family resided for a time in Panama where she and Ken later married. Martha was fluent in Spanish and she and Ken had a lasting, mutual interest in the language and culture from their time in Cuba.
After his time in Cuba, Ken returned with his family to West Hartford, CT and enrolled in Trinity College where he was a business major. After graduating from Trinity, he enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he earned an MBA. He was hired by the Dupont Company where he worked for several years while he and Martha raised a family. Later he became an independent manufacturer's sales representative.
Ken and Martha raised their family in the Glenhardie Farms community adjoining Valley Forge Park. Their back yard and swimming pool were a social focal point for their children's neighborhood friends who would gather there to swim, play horseshoes, and socialize throughout their teen years and beyond. Ken and Martha themselves resided in the family's Glenhardie home for over 40 years.
Ken was always fascinated by, and knowledgeable about, birds. He also enjoyed golf, horseshoes, and outdoor grilling. He was a good cook and a "foodie" before the term was coined. Everyone knew Ken for his great sense of humor (which often featured his entertaining penchant for speaking in foreign accents of all kinds!).
When Martha became seriously ill, Ken enabled her transition to Barclay Friends Nursing Home in West Chester. Over the long period of Martha's residence at Barclay, Ken visited there daily and was her constant and loving companion until she passed away in 2012. Ken had, by then, relocated to Hershey's Mill in West Chester, where he forged a few very close and valuable friendships that sustained him through the rest of his life.
Ken was the beloved husband of the late Martha Bell (nee White) Barnett; loving father of Deborah Arnold (the late Franklin), Gail O'Neill (Sean), Martha Stephens (Scott), and Ken, Jr. (Heather Cooke); devoted grandfather of William, Melinda, Beth, Emily, Leah, Mattie, Trevor, Charlie, Jake, and Sam; also survived by his twin brother, Theodore Arnold "Ted" Barnett (Ruth) and 7 great-grandchildren.
Services and interment are private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 E. Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
Born in New York, NY in 1931, he was the son of the late Julian "Jay" Lester and Phyllis (nee McKay) Barnett. Ken was raised in West Hartford, CT and attended The Loomis School, a boarding school in Windsor, CT. After high school, Ken's family lived for a time in Havana in pre-Castro Cuba, where he met his future wife, Martha Bell White. Martha's father worked for the United Fruit Company and her family resided for a time in Panama where she and Ken later married. Martha was fluent in Spanish and she and Ken had a lasting, mutual interest in the language and culture from their time in Cuba.
After his time in Cuba, Ken returned with his family to West Hartford, CT and enrolled in Trinity College where he was a business major. After graduating from Trinity, he enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he earned an MBA. He was hired by the Dupont Company where he worked for several years while he and Martha raised a family. Later he became an independent manufacturer's sales representative.
Ken and Martha raised their family in the Glenhardie Farms community adjoining Valley Forge Park. Their back yard and swimming pool were a social focal point for their children's neighborhood friends who would gather there to swim, play horseshoes, and socialize throughout their teen years and beyond. Ken and Martha themselves resided in the family's Glenhardie home for over 40 years.
Ken was always fascinated by, and knowledgeable about, birds. He also enjoyed golf, horseshoes, and outdoor grilling. He was a good cook and a "foodie" before the term was coined. Everyone knew Ken for his great sense of humor (which often featured his entertaining penchant for speaking in foreign accents of all kinds!).
When Martha became seriously ill, Ken enabled her transition to Barclay Friends Nursing Home in West Chester. Over the long period of Martha's residence at Barclay, Ken visited there daily and was her constant and loving companion until she passed away in 2012. Ken had, by then, relocated to Hershey's Mill in West Chester, where he forged a few very close and valuable friendships that sustained him through the rest of his life.
Ken was the beloved husband of the late Martha Bell (nee White) Barnett; loving father of Deborah Arnold (the late Franklin), Gail O'Neill (Sean), Martha Stephens (Scott), and Ken, Jr. (Heather Cooke); devoted grandfather of William, Melinda, Beth, Emily, Leah, Mattie, Trevor, Charlie, Jake, and Sam; also survived by his twin brother, Theodore Arnold "Ted" Barnett (Ruth) and 7 great-grandchildren.
Services and interment are private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 E. Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Barnett, Sr., please visit our flower store.
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