Ken Camp passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his wife, daughters, and some grandchildren on Friday, October 27, 2023. Ken is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Frances (Demyan), his daughters Stacey (Ben Kopchick) of Milton, GA and Kristy (Mark DeCicco) of Cary, NC and his 8 grandchildren, Lauren (22), Kathryn (21), Grace (9), Emma (8), and Caleb (6) Kopchick, and Drew (16), Hayden (12), and Lane (7) DeCicco. He is also survived by his mother, Edith (Langley) Camp (99), and sister, Barbara (Camp) Price. Ken is preceded in death by his father, Louis R., and his sister, Marion Smith.
Ken was born in Vine Grove, KY on May 31, 1945, to Louis and Edith Camp. He was raised in Pitman, New Jersey before studying Chemistry and Psychology at Temple University.
Ken had a distinguished military career in the U.S. Army as a rotary wing aviator of Cobra Gunships as part of the elite 101st Airborne Division, graduating first in his class from Fort Rucker Flight School, then serving six years and retiring with the rank of Captain.
Ken was a strong and loving husband, father, and G-Daddy. Ken and Frann married Dec 9, 1973, at Fort Dix, NJ; his daughter Stacey was born while Ken was deployed in Korea, and his daughter Kristy was born during Ken’s remaining military service in KY.
Ken next poured his energy into his career and his team at Batesville Casket Company and then Hillenbrand Inc. in Batesville, IN, retiring as President & CEO in 2013 following 32 years of trusted and visionary leadership and storied mentorship that transformed the organization into a global, diversified industrial company.
Ken and Frann have lived the last number of years in The Oaks Club in Osprey, Florida, and enjoyed golf, traveling, and being with friends and family. His children and grandchildren loved visiting with their Gramm and “G-Daddy”.
Ken will be remembered for his tireless devotion to his wife and family his commitments to his employees and work team, and for his love of golf, bird hunting, fast cars, and philosophical quotes. In a 2005 interview, he said he wanted people to know him as “a person who always tried to do the difficult right over the easy wrong and who left that which I touched a little better than when I found it.”
Services will be held Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Covenant Life Presbyterian Church located at 8490 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL 34238. Visitation will be 12 PM-1 PM, with a service including military honors at 1 PM. A reception will follow at The Oaks Club located at 301 MacEwen Dr, Osprey, FL 34229.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter – Sarasota County at www.alz.org/flgulfcoast. Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Florida is handling the arrangements. To send a memory or condolence please visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com.
Ken, Daddy, G-Daddy – we’ll love you forever and for always.