Kenneth Alden Carlson

Ken graduated from Walpole High School, Walpole, MA and earned his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Rollins College.

He was married to Margaret Appendino on August 20, 1960 and they remained married until his death, just short of 60 years of marriage.

Ken served 20 years in the U.S. Airforce as a navigator and then field maintenance squadron commander, retiring as a Major. He and his family were stationed at McCoy Air Force Base and purchased the Conway home where all their daughters were raised at that time. After his military retirement, he worked for the Orange County Sherriff’s Department in the Corrections department’s probation and parole division. Subsequently, he worked as the fleet sales manager for Orange Buick GMC for 30 years, retiring at the age of 77.

Civic service and social engagement were big priorities in Ken’s post military life. He was a member of the South Orlando Kiwanis Club for nearly 40 years and served as the club’s president, Lt. Governor for the region and chaired the club’s annual golf tournament for many years with 2020 being the 30th if it had been held. The tournament was renamed in his honor by the club. Ken was very proud to have been instrumental in the acquisition of the clubhouse as well. He was also a member of the Retired Officers Association, Fraternal Order of the Moose, American Legion, Florida Citrus Sports Association, the Citrus Club, South Orlando Chamber of Commerce and the I.D.E.A. Club.

Ken loved sports of all kinds and was a booster for the UCF Football program and Citrus Bowl. Having played football, baseball and hockey in his youth, he remained a sports fan for his whole life and his favorite team was the New England Patriots. He coached softball through Conway Little League for the Finne’s Foxes which included his daughter Tina. He played golf and loved the game. This resulted in his efforts to host or sponsor numerous charitable golf tournaments for the benefit of the community and especially South Orlando Kiwanis and The Russell Home.

He was a devoted husband and father and time with family was of great importance to him. At home, he faithfully fed the birds, ducks and squirrels giving many of them names – nicknames were a calling card for which he was known by all who loved him. He had a big heart and was always kind to family pets and neighborhood strays. His dream from an early age was to own a beach home and this came to reality with a beautiful condo at New Smyrna Beach which became the center of family vacations and gatherings including the families of his daughters especially at July 4th.

Ken is survived by his wife, Margaret, daughters Cheryl (Tom) Collins, Lisa (Paul) Woolard and Tina (Joe) Trybus, grandchildren Wesley (Alex) Woolard, Hannah (John) Trybus Kennedy, Samantha (Landon) Woolard Eley, Madeline (Conner – fiancé) Trybus, Tanner Collins and Ava Trybus. He is also survived by his great grandson Fred Woolard and has a second great grandchild due to be born to Samantha in June. Ken had only one sibling, his sister Shirley Crown who still resides in their hometown of Walpole, MA.

Ken was the life of the party, loved to tease his wife, daughters and friends and was always ready with a joke. As such, the family will plan a celebration of life once public gathering is permitted. At present, in lieu of flowers, donations in Ken’s memory to the South Orlando Kiwanis Club or The Russell Home are suggested by the family.