E. Kenneth "Ken" Gavin

GAVIN, E. Kenneth aka Edward Kenneth Gavin, passed away quietly at home on July 6, 2021. Born August 11, 1926 in St. Louis, Ken played high school football and graduated from University City High School in St. Louis, Missouri before enlisting in the Air Force. After the war, Ken started his college career at Iowa State and then transferred to Washington University in St. Louis, where he graduated with an engineering degree in 1949. The main reason he transferred to Washington U was to be near his longtime girlfriend and fiancée, Betty Sutter. They married on November 24, 1949. Ken had borrowed his father’s car to take a honeymoon to Chicago, but Ken and Betty changed their minds and headed to Florida instead, shocking their parents!

Ken worked for Anheuser Busch from 1950 until 1980, working his way up to plant manager after transferring from St. Louis, to Tampa, to Los Angeles, and finally to Columbus, Ohio. Columbus is where he considered home, living there from 1967 until 1995. Betty and Ken were very civically active in Columbus, and belonged to Scioto Country Club. Golf has been important to Betty and him as a source of friends as well as a sporting activity.  Post retirement, he and Betty then moved back to the north Tampa area of Weeki Wachee, the other city they considered home. Ken and Betty joined Glen Lakes Country Club and were active members and golfers until recently when physical limitations curtailed their ability to golf, but not before Ken made his first hole in one at age 89. They built their home in Glen Lakes and it has been their haven for over 25 years.

Ken, as he was known by everyone, is survived by his wife of 72 years: Betty; three children: Lyn Derenski (Dan), Suzie Altenburg (Ted), and Mark Gavin; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Layne Ogden (Kevin), Everett Ogden, Drake Ogden; Dax Altenburg (Lisa) Riggs Altenburg and Austin Altenburg (Anna), Colton Altenburg and Reagan Altenburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to People Helping People, P.O. Box 6182, Spring Hill, Florida 34613. 

ARRANGEMENTS BY

MERRITT FUNERAL HOME

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA

(352) 686-6649

"Family Owned & Operated"

www.merrittfuneral.com