Cynthia and Kenneth Tarr

Kenneth “Ken” Edwin Tarr, 68, died in Albuquerque, NM on May 5, 2016 after almost two weeks of recovering from injuries caused by a motorcycle accident that claimed the life of his wife, Cindy, on April 23, 2016. He was able to spend his remaining days visiting with his two children, son-in-law, and many close friends before succumbing to complications caused by his injuries.

Ken was born on September 4, 1947 to C.W. and Virginia Tarr in Washington D.C. As a child in a military family, Ken spent his younger years in Japan, Germany, and Roswell, NM and then graduated high school from Ysleta High School in El Paso, TX in 1965. After graduating, Ken attended college at Texas Western College of the University of Texas. In July of 1967, Ken was drafted into the U.S. Army attending basic training in his hometown at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX. After graduating U.S. Army Paratrooper school, Ken was assigned to the 2/327 101st Airborne Division serving as an infantryman in Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam, Ken earned multiple awards to include the Bronze Star with “V” device, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for his valor and multiple Purple Hearts among many other decorations. After honorably separating from the service, Ken spent a few years helping his grandfather on the family farm in Virginia. In the early 1970’s, Ken was travelling through Odessa, TX where he stopped to visit a friend and ended up going to work at the Pontiac House as a mechanic establishing himself early on as a staple in the automotive and hot rod community of West Texas.

On October 3, 1978, Ken married Cindy Burdick Tarr in Odessa, TX. Ken and Cindy were happily married for almost 38 years and had two children. Ken continued his work in the automotive community owning his own shop, KT Automotive, working at Alcan Auto Parts, and finally retiring from the City of Odessa as Equipment Services Supervisor in 2010. Ken enjoyed his retirement years building hot rods, riding motorcycles, travelling with his wife, and spending time with family and close friends. Becoming “Granddaddy” made him young again as he played Nerf gun wars, went swimming, and shared his love of their country home and cars with his grandchildren.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife, Cindy Tarr, his father, C.W. Tarr in 1990, his mother, Virginia Tarr in 2009, and his mother-in-law, Geneva Burdick in 1991.

Ken is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany and Johnathan, his son and daughter-in-law, Levi and Danielle, his sister, Sandy, his father-in-law, Melvin, and his four grandchildren, Phoebe, Piper, Riley, and Jake.

Memorial Services for Ken and Cindy Tarr will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to The Hope & Healing Place, 1721 S. Tyler, Amarillo, TX 79102 and Sam’s Race, 2407 W. 40th, Odessa, TX.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.