Kenneth Wade Wyatt

Kenneth Wade Wyatt, one day before turning 75, died July 9, 2012 in a scooter accident on his way to work at his Punta Gorda office at Reverse Mortgages Associates, LLC (RMA), a firm he founded in 2003. He was a resident of Punta Gorda for ten years. He and his wife, Barbara Rebecca (Foltz) Wyatt, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in 2011.

Ken was born July 10, 1937 in Champaign, Illinois, the fourth child of Golda Christine (Strode) Wyatt and Herman William Wyatt, farmers in Champaign County. He was graduated from the University of Illinois in Agribusiness and from the Graduate Program in Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He was a banker in central Illinois, at Citizens National Bank of Macomb, First National Bank of Ottawa, and Citizens Bank of Albion. He later founded and became president of Bay Bank on Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Following 35 years in banking, Ken became an investment broker and financial advisor, associated most recently with Stiffel Nicholas. In 2003, he opened RMA in Punta Gorda, with a branch office in The Villages, Florida, which his son Robert Wyatt opened in 2012. Ken was active in the Masonic Lodge, serving as Past Master of Ottawa, Illinois Lodge #40, and with Jaycees, The Lions Club, Elks Lodge, and Rotary International. He also enjoyed camping, downhill skiing, hiking, and reading non-fiction "finds" from libraries and book sales. He was a member of the Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda.

Ken was a lifetime, faithful member of the First United Methodist Church. His charitable heart and generous giving made a difference in the lives of many, including, for example: the transient residents at the Hotel for Men in Chicago, for whom he would personally prepare and deliver Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners; and the young families to whom he gave money (anonymously) simply because they needed it, even though he did not know them personally. He supported many charitable organizations and donated his sports car to the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Charlotte County.

His guidance, patience, and quiet strength gave each of his four children a childhood of wonder and love. His children and grandchildren delighted in his youthfulness, humor, and spirit of adventure.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Ella Mae Wyatt; two half-brothers: Cleo and Harold Wyatt; and a half-sister, Gertrude Wyatt. He is survived by, in addition to his wife Barbara: his brother Donald (Nancy) Wyatt, Los Angeles, California; two sisters: Dr. Willetta Silva, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; and Sandra (Earle) Zimmerman, Danville, Illinois; two half-brothers: Mel (Bobby) Wyatt, Clearwater, Florida; nephews Jimmy Wyatt and Denny (Rose) Wyatt and niece Linda Sue Wyatt, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; three daughters: Rebecca (Spike) Wyatt of Gary, Indiana; Kathryn Wyatt of Olympia, Washington; Laura Wyatt of Chicago, Illinois; one son: Robert (Kerrylyn) Wyatt of The Villages, Florida; five grandchildren: Adam, Alexis, Rachel, Goldie, and Skyler; sisters-in-law Marilyn (John) Burch, Punta Gorda, and Marge (Terry) Perkins, Mahomet, Illinois; brother-in-law Marvin (Kathy) Foltz, Medina, Ohio; and many more beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 13th at Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home, 635 E. Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda. In memory of Ken, please help someone when you can, just for the good of it.

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