Kenneth Marvin Andrews, 86, passed away Friday, May 19, 2017, at St Catherine Hospital, Garden City, Kansas. He was born on August 23, 1930, in Rushville, Missouri to Melvin Mathew and Ada Lorene (Church) Andrews. He married Katherine Doreen Simpson on August 15, 1970 at the United Methodist Church in Satanta, Kansas.

He enlisted in the Army Armed Forces in April of 1947 at Fort Riley, Kansas. He served in Nome, Alaska and in Montana before his honorable discharge in December 1949. He then re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska in January 1951. He served in West Palm Beach, Florida; Merced, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Aviano, Italy; Minot, North Dakota; Keflavik, Iceland and Kotzebue, Alaska. Ken said that they knew he could survive the cold because of his assignments. After 22 years and 11 months he retired from the U.S. Air Force and Armed Forces in April 1969. He was a Firefighter and Aircraft Crash Rescueman. Following his military career, he worked for 10 years as a firefighter for the State of California.

Kenneth was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Satanta American Legion Post #276, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., USA. 32° Minot, N.D., and was a lifetime member of Temple Lodge 6 AF & AM, Albuquerque, N.M.

He spent his free time riding motorcycles, playing tennis and square dancing. Just as his experience in the military taught him to take pride in keeping his things neat, tidy and in order, his time as a firefighter gave him a love for washing his vehicles and making sure they shined perfectly.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy; a son, Kenneth Michael Andrews and wife Millie of Porterville, Calif.; daughters, Pamela S. Thompson and husband Skip of Porterville, Calif,; Stephanie L. Walters and husband Bob of Porterville, Calif,; Melanie J. Andrews of Albuquerque, N.M.; sisters, Beverly Slinkard of Blue Springs, MO.; and Donna Manly of Rushville, MO.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A private family service will take place at the Dudley Township Cemetery, Satanta, Kansas. Cremation has taken place.

Suggested memorial contributions are St. Catherine Hospice and Satanta Happy Agers, in care of Weeks Family Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 1200, Sublette, KS 67877. Condolences may be left online at WeeksFamilyFuneralHome.com

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