Frank "Ken" Kenneth Henriquez

Frank Kenneth “Ken” Henriquez of Tampa, Florida was born on September 30, 1925, and passed from this earth on November 2, 2023. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Olga A. Henriquez and daughter Ardis A. Clark, his parents Frank A. Henriquez and Querina Henriquez, brothers Douglas Henriquez, Wallace Henriquez, Richard Henriquez, and William Henriquez, and sister Sylvia Quelle.

Ken proudly volunteered to join the U.S. Coast Guard at the age of 17 during WWII. He served aboard LST 796 as an electrician in the battle for Okinawa which was the first ship to make landfall on Japanese territory that was held by Japan before the war and was honorably discharged with a bronze star.

Ken was an engineer at heart, always thinking, creating and building things. He built his own gyrocopter from scratch in his home garage and successfully took it to flight several times. His career included companies such as Sperry Microwave, Westinghouse Nuclear Division and finally UB Corporation where he worked up until the age of 86 years.

Ken and Olga built and lived in their dream home on a lake in Odessa, where they enjoyed the views, nature and family gatherings. Ken was famous for his smoked chicken which his family is still trying to replicate. Ken lived a long and full life. His motto was, “everything in moderation.”

Ken is survived by his daughter Kay Lee, her husband Robert Lee, and son in law Joseph Clark, his grandchildren, Carrie A. Zicchino, Thomas Kenneth Cauvel, Trevor Lee, and Corina Frost, and ten great grandchildren.

A graveside service for Ken will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00AM at Blount and Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 E. Lake Ave. Tampa, FL 33610.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared at http://www.gardenofmemoriestampa.com