Kenneth Earl Mead

1928 - 2019

Kenneth Earl Mead
10/28/1928 ~ 01/17/2019
Kenneth Earl Mead passed away, shortly after his 90th birthday, on January 17, 2019. He was a lifelong resident of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born on October 28, 1928 to Vern Ephraim Woolsey Mead and Sarah Irene Orton. He was the youngest of four children: Jack, Jenny, and Ray. He was a loving and dedicated husband and father. Ken had many chapters in his life touching many families. He joined the U.S. Navy during WWII and served from February 1946 to October of 1947, at which time he was honorably discharged to help care for his family.
Ken was a lifelong musician and played many instruments, but he especially enjoyed playing the accordion and organ. He loved sales and teaching music. Working later as a heavy equipment operator and running dozers and front end loaders, he built part of I-215. His last job was as a bus driver for UTA; he retired after 13 years of service. In his early years, he loved to build and fly model airplanes. Later he got a pilot's license and flew small planes for pleasure. He loved flying with family and friends. Ken was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various positions. He especially loved serving at the Jordan River Temple.
Ken is survived by his wife, LaVerna R Mead; his children and step-children: Julie Gay (Don) Beard, Kennie Sue (Mike) Hansen, John Robert (Ray) Drlik-Mead, David Earl (Michelle) Mead, Richard Clinton (Colleen) Mead, Joe (Vickie) Gibbons, Christina (Adrian) Lee, Tom (Sharon) Gibbons, Shauna Lee (Garrick) Frazier, Darla Ann (Wallace) Bowden, Vickie Lynn Ricks, and Jaena (Brent) Gibson. He is survived by numerous grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and step-son, George Gibbons.
A viewing will be held Friday, January 25, 2019, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State Street, Murray, Utah. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Church (Revere Building), 981 Revere Circle, with a viewing at the church from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Interment: Murray City Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Sandy Health and Rehabilitation and Tender Care Hospice for their kind and loving care for him in his last days. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.