Kenneth Edgar Farnsworth

Kenneth Edgar Farnsworth was born on April 10, 1936, in rural Collin County, Texas. He was child #7 for Herschel Levi & Mary Jane Morris Farnsworth, who have preceded him to heaven. His older siblings that spoiled him rotten have also gone to heaven: Alice Gowen, Thomas (Bill) Farnsworth, Frances Dykes, Dorothy McBlain, Robert (Bob) Farnsworth, and Joe Farnsworth. Surviving these, is the youngest, Jane Vermillion.

Kenneth’s first love was his only love, Martha Nell Pearce. He was headed into the 8th grade and Nell in 7th. She was picking cotton and he was playing with his baby sister, Jane, when they first saw each other. Getting to know one another at Willow Springs Missionary Baptist Church, they began dating his junior year. Nell’s dad, Alton Pearce, told Ken he could only date Nell if he slowed down his driving. On December 24, 1954, the couple pledged their devotion before God and man, and never looked back for 71 years of marriage.

Kenneth had an incredible work ethic that took him from a ditch-digger at Frymire Engineering Co. to Vice President. In 1968, Ken took a leap of faith moving to Preferred Heating & Air Conditioning, becoming a co-owner with Merrell McBlain, and eventually buying the company.

Kenneth’s passions included hunting, fishing, fast cars & real estate development. He enjoyed the process of seeing a dirt-covered lot, meeting with architects, being the general contractor, and the fulfillment of completed projects; but his biggest passions were His Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, and his family.

Ken accepted Christ as Savior at age 12. He was ordained a deacon in 1964, taught adult Sunday School until 2021, and then led devotionals at assisted living. He served with the Gideons in Van Zandt and Smith counties. Ken asked most every nurse he ever had if they knew Jesus as Savior. He loved his family to gather around the piano and sing hymns and southern gospel songs.

Kenneth is survived by his loving wife, Martha Nell and four daughters: Diane Hooker & son-in-law Ken Hooker; Jeannie Goodson; Karen Rabe & son-in-law Gary Rabe; and Grace Smith. To this family, ten grandchildren were added: Robyn Hackle and husband Trent, Melanie Blackburn and husband Brad, Scott Goodson and wife Wanda, Kenneth Lewis Goodson and wife Laura, Kenneth Garrett (Rett) Rabe and wife Cindy, Kimberly Fowler and husband Josh, Kyle Rabe and wife Kristen, Ashley Pilgrim and husband Justin, Amber Smith, and Autumn McCulloch and husband Mitchell. These have added great-grandchildren: Kensen, Aubrey, and Preston Green, Anna, Ashlyn, Ethan, and Ava Blackburn, Faith and Katie Goodson, Jake and Ben Rabe, Karis and Allie Fowler, Karson, Kayleigh, Kyler, Karter, and Kenneth Kole Rabe, Grant Pilgrim, Hudson, Emory, Parker and, coming in August, Brooklyn McCulloch.

He was preceded in death by son-in-law Mark Goodson and great-granddaughter Kyleigh Elaine Rabe.

Ken loved spoiling his family with great food, fun, & travel. Colorado trips with snow skiing in the winter and trout fishing in the summer were favorites. He was a master griller, so that restaurant steaks don’t even compare. Other pastimes were horseback rides, and rounding up cattle on his favorite horse, Fireball, with his cow-dog, Chief; then he would round up the grandkids and take them to DQ for ice cream (usually right before suppertime!).

"He has left his Bible behind, for now he is with The One whose very name is The Word. He has left his faith behind, for now he sees face-to-face. He no longer struggles to find words for the love of God, for now he is embraced by the Lord’s very presence. He no longer feels the weight of his years, nor the perplexity of heartbreaking problems, nor the tears of this life, for he is home, safe and sound, where there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain."

- Lee Eclov, retired pastor