Kenneth Rush Lampton

KENNETH RUSH LAMPTON, of Bluffton, died Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at home. Born Jan. 26, 1924, in Hannibal, Mo., he was the son of Ida May (Rush) and Kenneth R. Lampton. He grew up in Fort Wayne, attended South Side High School and graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. in 1945. He served in World War II and the Korean War as a Navy Line Officer. He married Elizabeth Ann (Beth) Green on Aug. 14, 1948, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne; she survives. Resigning his Navy Commission in 1956, he entered corporate business life. He served as Submersible Motor Product Manager for Franklin Electric Co., Bluffton for seven years prior to co-founding and serving as President of ETC, Inc. of Fort Wayne, a Manufacturers Representative Group for Specialty Machine Designers and Builders. He retired in 1989. He was a past president of Fort Wayne Children's Day Care Center and a co-founder of Wells Community Swim Team serving as its first president. In 1997, he helped form the "Man-to-Man" Prostate Cancer Support Group for the American Cancer Society, Wells County. His memberships included Bluffton Chapters of the American Legion, original Kiwanis Club, Elks Club, and Parlor City Country Club. He was patron member of Wells County Creative Arts Council; sustaining member of Caylor Nickel Foundation; life member of Naval Academy Alumni Association; life member of the South Side High School Alumni Association; life member of Friends of the Library; member of the Fort Wayne Friars; and lifetime member of Trinity Episcopal Church. Also surviving are four children, Kenneth Rush Lampton Jr. of Denver, Colo., Marybeth (Patrick) Long of Holt, Mich., Laurel Ann (Alfred) Sutton of Long Island, N.Y., and Michael S. (Deborah) Lampton of Ossian; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary K. Milner. A Celebration of Life is 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, with visitation from 9:30 a.m. til time of service in the church lounge. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials to Trinity Episcopal Church Endowment Fund (www.trinityfw.org), the Creative Arts School of Ballet Endowment Fund through the Wells County Foundation (www.wellscounty.org), or Hospice of Northeast Indiana (www.familyhospiceindiana.com). Arrangements by Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home. www.thomarich.com