Kenneth Craven Windle - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

Kenneth Craven Windle

February 16, 1921 - August 9, 2016

Kenneth Craven Windle, age 95, of Newark, DE, left this world on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 after exploring almost every mile of its circumference. Ken began his journey on February 16, 1921 in the town of Bradford in Yorkshire, England.

As a young child, he loved to explore, often by bicycle or boat. Not one for traditional book learning, he left school at the age of 14½ years to work in Lister’s Mills. This lasted a short while until he realized that he really wanted to be a machinist. At the age of 16 years, he began his engineering apprenticeship at J. Parkinson & Sons Machine Tool Makers in Shipley, England.

Two years later WWII broke out. Even though engineers at this time were exempt from serving, Ken joined the British Merchant Marines to serve his country by providing the fuel and supplies that ships needed to fight the war. He retired 5½ years later as a Fourth Engineer.

On one of his many trips to port in New York City, Ken met the woman who changed the direction of his life, Clara Pechenik (Windle). After traveling to dozens and dozens of ports and islands around the world, he re-charted his trip and headed to the United States to marry Clara on March 18, 1945.

The skills that Ken acquired as a machine apprentice and as a marine engineer were put to good use in his later career as a plant engineer, first with the Budd Company and for two years with Hercules. He then took a job at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Middletown, Delaware, where he was a Certified Plant Engineer for 17 years.

After retiring from St. Andrew’s, Ken and Clara enjoyed the rest of their days in Newark, Delaware where they enjoyed many happy afternoons with their friends at the Nottingham Green Swim Club. Ken and Clara celebrated 70 happy years of marriage in 2015. After Clara passed away in October, Ken moved to assisted living at Brookdale White Chapel in Newark. He had wonderful care there until he entered Christiana Hospital in late July. His last two weeks were spent under the careful and compassionate watch of the staff at Season’s Hospice.

Ken and Clara’s two sons and their wives, Richard (LuAnn) and Derek (Liz) were never far from his side. They mourn his loss, as do his grandchildren Ryan (Trish), Steven (Bridgette), Michael (Danielle), Diana, Anna and Nathan, his great grandchildren Zachary, Ashlee, and Taylor, his sister-in-law Joni (Harry) in California, and his nieces and nephews in Australia, Massachusetts and California.

Friends and family are invited to gather for a visitation from 6 pm until 8 pm on Friday evening, August 26, 2016 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Seasons Hospice of Delaware, 220 Continental Drive, Ste. 101, Newark, DE 19713 or to Faithful Friends, 12 Germay Drive, Wilmington, DE 19804.

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9 Condolences for Kenneth Craven Windle

  • I am sorry for your loss. I am glad that he is reunited with his wife. God bless you.

  • In memory of a dear uncle who loved life and a laugh. My memories of an uncle who loved jive at good “old rock n roll”, Thankyou for dancing with me at the nightclub when you came over to Australia for a holiday. R.I.P . Pauline and Brett

  • Larry Miller, August 11, 2016
    Rich, Derek and the Windle family,
    I am deeply sorry for your Dad’s passing. We shared many memories since I first met him and your Mom in 1969. They were a devoted and hospitable couple and I believe our friendship was instant. I always felt welcome at their home and yours for all family functions, parties or BBQs. I will never forget the surprise birthday party you and LuAnn threw for me. I was truly surprised. Certainly the times we all spent with fellow Senior National Guard Officers, BG Walt (Bud) Widdoes and his wonderful wife June, BG Art VandePoele and his wife June, and BG Gene Trivits and his lovely wife Jean and you and your parents who all lived around one another in Nottingham Green. Lovely homes, lovely parties. Your Mom and Dad were like lovebirds, sweet and affectionate to a fault. I dubbed them the Matriarch and Patriarch, titles now passed to you. They were so proud of both of your successes. God granted them seventy years as Husband and Wife. So know Richard, LuAnn, Derek, Liz, Ryan, Trish, Steven, Bridgette, Michael, Danielle, Diana, Justin, Anna, Nathan, Zachary, Ashlee, Taylor, sister-in-law Joni, and Harry in California and his nieces and nephews in Australia, Massachusetts and California, Ken and Clara are now joined together once again where there is no more pain, no more sorrow. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light forever shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed through the Divine Mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Blessings and Peace to you all.
    Love,
    Larry

  • My condolences to Richard, Derek and families on the passing of their Dad. A wonderful gentleman with an outstanding life in the service of others. May God and Clara welcome him into his new home.
    With love
    James Colgan – husband of Cecelia (McCaul – deceased)
    Perth
    Western Australia

  • So sorry for your loss Dereck. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

  • Rich & Luann,
    Ray & I are very sorry for the loss of your father. He will missed by his family now he is with your Mom.

  • My condolences to the family on the loss of your loved one.The sting of death is very painful. But when you throw all your pain on God ( Psalm 83:18), He will comfort you and carry that pain for you.
    So draw close to God in prayer and He will draw close to you in return.( James 4:8)

  • Thank you Uncle Larry. Your words are so comforting; you always know the best thing to say.

  • Our deepest sympathy to Rich and LuAnn. We are so sorry for your loss. I am sure Ken is very happy to be with Clara again.