Kenneth "Ken" Albert Carson

Kenneth “Ken” Albert Carson went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 20, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by family, after a short, but hard-fought battle with colon cancer. He was 80 years old.

Ken was born on May 23, 1945 in Norman, Oklahoma to parents Ralph P. and Helen M. (Jeanneret) Carson. He was the middle sibling of older sister Sonya and younger brother Darrell “DC” Carson. Ken’s father worked for Lockheed Corporation. Due to the nature of his job, the family moved throughout the United States every one to two years. Ken attended many different elementary schools and made many friends wherever he went. Around 1955, Ralph’s job took the family to the Iwakuni Marine Base in Japan, where they stayed for about two years. Then they were transferred to Seattle, Washington, then Hutchinson, Kansas, then Corpus Christi, Texas, where Ken’s father was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Shortly after, Ken’s mother moved the family back to her hometown of Emporia, Kansas. Ken was a Child of God, baptized in 1959 and confirmed in 1966. Ken attended Lowther Junior High School and then Emporia Senior High School, where he met his high school sweetheart Sylvia Ann Aschbrenner in February of their junior year. Ken, affectionately known as Kenny to Sylvia, was working as the assistant manager at Henry’s 15 Cent Hamburgers, where he eventually became the manager. After high school, Ken and Sylvia were united in marriage on July 31, 1966 by Sylvia’s father, the Rev. A.R. Aschbrenner at Messiah Lutheran in Emporia, Kansas. The two lived in Kansas City while Sylvia completed nursing school. Then in 1969 Ken was transferred to Wichita, Kansas for his job at National Laboratories. In January 1970, they welcomed their first child, son Michael “Mike” Scott Carson and three years later they welcomed daughter Michelle Denise Carson. In 1978, Ken began working at Boeing Aircraft, where he worked for 31 years as a manufacturing engineer.

After his retirement in 2009, you could always find Ken tinkering with something, whether it was his boat, the RV, lawnmower, swimming pool, or just something around the house that needed to be fixed. Ken was never one to sit still for too long. Ken also loved to travel, and he and Sylvia had many fun adventures together in their RV. Ken loved spending time with his children, Mike and Michelle, son-in-law Everett, grandchildren Savannah and Brennan, and great grandson Greyson. He loved to take his family boating, waterskiing, fishing, and swimming. Despite what he may have said, he also loved and spoiled their two dogs, Tucker and Lexie. Ken’s humor, guidance, and ability to fix anything that broke will be greatly missed. In his final days, Ken’s faith and trust in God never wavered and he looked towards the promise of spending eternity with Jesus, where he is now.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Carson and Helen Carson Marsh; stepfather, Ralph Marsh; grandson, Brennan Peshek; and nephews Troy Carson and Cody Carson.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Carson of Wichita; children, Michael Carson and Michelle (Everett) Peshek of Wichita; granddaughter, Savannah Peshek of Wichita; great grandson, Greyson Peshek (son of Brennan); brother, DC (D) Carson of Ocala, Florida; sister, Sonya (Tom) Bourdo of Surprise, Arizona; nephew, Ron (Joyce) Curry of Mt. Vernon, Washington; niece, Rhonda Curry of Surprise, Arizona; and many other extended family and friends.

Memorial contributions in Ken’s name may be made to the following: Fairmount Ministries and Coffee Co.,3815 E. 17th Street N.,Wichita, Kansas 67208, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 6770 E. 34th Street N.,Wichita, Kansas 67226, and/or Chisolm Trail Antique Gun Club, PO Box 47349, Wichita, Kansas 67201.

Private services will be held for Ken.