Ken Bramlett

Ken joined his beautiful wife JoAnn in Heaven the morning of November 1st, 2024. He was 88 years old.

Ken was born in Oklahoma City where he lived throughout his life. His father died when Ken was only 12. Everyone in the family worked with the brothers starting at a young age working for Oklahoma Publishing Company throwing newspaper routes twice a day. While Ken was in high school he worked at Wiley Post airport where his lifelong love of aviation began. Rather than getting overtime pay, Ken was offered the opportunity to get flying time and got his pilot's license. He loved flying and became a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. JoAnn and Ken met when Ken's family moved in two doors down from her aunt and uncle who wanted her to meet the nice young man who was their new neighbor. Although they went to different schools, they were high school sweethearts. Ken graduated from Classen High School in 1954 and went on to attend the University of Oklahoma majoring in aviation studies. JoAnn and Ken were married July 29th, 1955. Ken decided that the daily commute to Norman for school along with working full time at Oklahoma Farm Bureau was taking too much time away from JoAnn, so he transferred to Oklahoma City University and continued working. He got his degree in 1958 graduating with a double major in physics and mathematics. Cindy was born two months later.

In 1960 Ken started a new job as the branch manager at Ross Martin Company where he learned the business of designing, selling, and the management of business forms and worked there sixteen years. He started his own company KBF Business Forms in 1976. He had many clients in Oklahoma including Kerr McGee and Bone and Joint Hospital. Ken continued working until this summer, when one day he announced that he would be retiring after being self-employed for 48 years.

Ken and JoAnn enjoyed their home, having friends over to play cards, croquet or badminton, taking their boat to Lake Tenkiller, working in the yard, and were always there for all things "Cindy". Whether it was an open house in grade school, Girl Scout campouts, singing in the choir at church, the Top 30 chorus at school, or the end of year piano recitals at OCU, Ken and JoAnn always made it a point to be there to support their daughter.  They were married for 66 years until JoAnn's death in 2022.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife JoAnn, son-in-law Jim Thompson, parents Roy Bramlett and Marguerite Allen, brother Richard Bramlett, brother David Bramlett and sister-in-law Patricia. He is survived by his daughter Cindy Thompson, nephews Richard Bramlett (Cathy) and Keith Bramlett (Cecilia). A special thank you to Ken's cousin Thomas Dale Clanton and his wife Gail for staying in contact with him through the years. He is also survived by his "puppies" Annie and Buddy who brought so much love and joy to his life.

 A celebration of Ken's life will be Monday, November 18th at 2:00 p.m. at Smith and Kernke Funeral Home located at 14624 N. May Avenue. There will be a brief graveside service at Rose Hill Burial Park to follow. Ken never met a dog he didn't like and the family had many rescue dogs as pets through the years. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Ken's favorite charities the ASPCA or the Oklahoma Humane Society.