Kenneth Dean Austin

Marlow: Kenneth Dean Austin, 78, passed away Friday, December 13, 2024 in Claremore, Oklahoma.
Visitation will be open to the public from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at the Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home in Marlow, Oklahoma.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home in Marlow, Oklahoma, with Rev. David Hale officiating. Burial will take place Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the Celburne County Memorial Gardens in Heber Springs, Arkansas.
Ken was born on June 21, 1946 to Ira and Allie Cally (McConnell) Austin in Howe, Oklahoma. After graduating in Howe, he joined the United States Army and proudly served his country in Hawaii during the Vietnam War. Ken attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University pursuing a degree in education, but he decided to switch tracks and went to Draughon's School of Business and Electronics to learn the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and earn his First Class License to work on radio and television stations. Ken worked in Laredo, Texas with the radio station and San Antonio, Texas with the WOAI television station before deciding to go to work in railroad communications. This shift in his career eventually led him to become a communication supervisor with the railroad, placing him in Arkansas. Later picking back up his work in engineering for radio stations, Ken befriended Sherry Lynn Lafferty. They eventually became business partners, and on February 12, 1983, Ken and Sherry married in Fort Smith, Arkansas. They moved, to stay, in Marlow, Oklahoma in 1987 where they started their own radio stations. In total, Ken built five FM radio stations and one AM radio station for them as well as several other radio stations across the country throughout his career. Ken was a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and, along with his wife, operated the KFXI 92 station based in their new home town of Marlow. Outside of his professional career, Ken still loved working with electronics. He built model railroads with miniature Christmas towns, and every year he enjoyed building and programming a Christmas light show along with his wife. Ken was baptized at the Vimy Ridge Baptist Church east of Rush Springs, Oklahoma.
Survivors include his wife, Sherry of the home, sister, Iris Weatherford of Broken Arrow, OK, two nieces, a nephew, and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Allie Austin, brother, James Earl Austin, and two sisters, Doris Skinner and Jo Ann Meyers.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jason McPhearson, D. B. Green, Patricia Billings, Terry Brown, Charles Wade, Jeff Southmayd, Keith Ellingson, Dr. Ryan Scott, Jimmy Richardson, Benny Newton, Brent Lemons, and Roy Burk.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kenneth's honor to Parkinson's Research.
Online condolences may be made to www.CallawaySmithCobb.com