KENNETH E. MELCHIOR

Kenneth E. Melchior died July 29, 2014, at the age of 82 in Shawnee Mission, KS. Ken was the son of G.P. and Eva Melchior of Topeka, KS. Born and raised in Topeka, he graduated from Hayden High School, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame in 1954. He served in the Air Force Reserve from 1954-57, and later moved to Kansas City. Ken worked as an account executive and administrative vice president at Merrill Lynch in Kansas City until his retirement in 2006 after 49 years with the firm. Ken was a lifelong athlete. He excelled at tennis and long-distance running, competing in numerous 10K road races and four marathons, including the New York Marathon. Ken was an original member of Health Plus, a health and fitness club in Overland Park, later known as Fitness Plus More. From it, he drew many close friends. Survivors include daughter, Molly Melchior of Leesburg, Va.; and two sons, Mark Melchior of Guilford, Vt., and Brooks Melchior of Los Angeles. Ken's sister, Virginia McCready, and brother, Gerald Melchior, predeceased him. Ken was a longtime parishioner of Cure of Ars Catholic Church in Overland Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor of Kansas City.