Kenneth Mitchell Lomax
Kenneth Mitchell Lomax, age 70, of West Grove, PA died at his home on June 9, 2018 after a very short illness from an aggressive form of cancer.
Born in Wilmington in 1947, he was the son of the late Ernest Lomax and Martha (Mitchell) Lomax and was a 7th generation Delawarean.
Ken was a graduate of Newark High School. He went on to earn his B.S. in chemical engineering from Lafayette College, his M.S. degree in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware, and his PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Maryland. He started his career at University of Maryland’s Horn Point Environmental Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland, where he was a research engineer. In 1979, he moved to the University of Delaware Agricultural Engineering Department to pursue his passion which was undergraduate teaching, especially working with and mentoring his engineering technology students. His research work focused on environmental engineering improvements to support the mushroom industry. Ken very much enjoyed working with mushroom growers to help develop pragmatic engineering solutions and provided hands on assistance to challenges facing growers. Although most of his work was local, he was an active participant in international conferences, and enjoyed traveling to other parts of the world to visit mushroom farms and assist as needed, particularly in his expertise in air-flow monitoring and controls.
After retiring in 2009 from teaching at University of Delaware, he continued his work with mushroom growers, but also enjoyed traveling, gardening, maintaining and making improvements on his small farm, and volunteering. He and his wife often traveled to National Parks to hike in the mountains and enjoy the wildlife. Ken was an avid University of Delaware sports fan. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Newark, where he assisted with their monthly food pantry. He also served on the Board of the Friends Home in Kennett for many years.
Ken is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Lomax; uncles, Joe Mitchell (wife Kathy) of Woodside Farm in Hockessin, DE and Larry Parrish of Kennett Square, PA; and many cousins. In addition to his parents, Ken is preceded in death by his sister, Anne Lomax.
A visitation for family and friends will be held at 12:30 pm until 2 pm on June 24, 2018, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 701 S. College Avenue in Newark, DE, where a memorial service to celebrate his life will begin at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends Home in Kennett, 147 W State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
Roy and Barbara Palo
Our deepest condolence to the Lomax family.
Maureen and Jim Pietschmann
We are so sorry for your loss. We will miss seeing him.
Maureen and Jim
Marcy Murphy
I am very sorry to hear of Dr. Lomax’s passing. He was always so warm and always had a smile. I will miss him very much.
Marcy Murphy
Stacey and Rob
Nancy,
I am so sorry to hear the news about Ken’s passing. I was just thinking I would see you both in WV for the usual NABEC activities and technical tour. Rob and I (and all of NABEC) will miss Ken and all that he did for us. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Cristina Ratti
Dear Nancy and family, I’ve just learnt what happened, I am so sorry to hear about Ken. Please accept my sinceres condolences from Jim and myself.
Bill & Mary Ann Bowers
Our deepest sympathy, Nancy. You and Ken are great friends from NABEC and we always look forward to catching up on the latest with you each year. This is such a shock and our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sending BIG HUGS ( ) to you!
Bill & Mary Ann Bowers
Cliff Keil
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. He was a great friend and colleague. I always enjoyed our time together at UofD and at mushroom meetings.
Linda D Santomenna
Nancy,
We are so deeply sorry for your loss. We so enjoyed our last gathering together. Please know our heart, thoughts, and prayers are with you and your family. Linda and Bob xo
Chuck Mason and Kathy Tinney
Nancy:
We are so sorry to learn of Ken’s passing. We have fond memories of seeing you two at the various U of D athletic events and other campus activities. Ken will be very much missed. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you.
Julie Cayley
Nancy
I am very sad to hear of Kens passing. You have both been special friends and part of our NABEC family and Ken will be missed terribly. Please remember you will always be part of the NABEC family, my thoughts are with you.
Julie
Palaniappa Krishnan (PK)
Dear Nancy: We are in shock. We remember Ken’s cherubic smile. Ken made me feel at home as part of the department when I came to UD in 1985. He was always there for me advising me how to get things done efficiently.
Nancy.. May God give you the strength to go through these trying times. You and your families will be in our prayers.
PK and Chitra
Judy Hough-Goldstein
So sorry to hear of Ken’s untimely passing. I enjoyed all of our various interactions as faculty colleagues at UD.
Sharon Keeler
Nancy! So very sad to hear of Ken’s death. He was such a kind, sweet guy. Call on us for whatever, whenever. We are thinking of you. With affection, Sharon and Calvin Keeler
Valerie Orsat
My sincere condolances. Ken will be sincerely missed. As a NABEC member for 25 years, i always looked forward to meeting up with Ken for some fun and stimulating conversations. Sincerely, Valerie.
Cathlene Kinney
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Lomax. I am a former employee of CANR and enjoyed working with him during my time there.
Paul Heiinemann
I am very sad to hear about Ken’s passing. I always looked up to him and considered him a friend and a mentor. He was a source of calm, sage wisdom. I will miss seeing him at our annual NABEC gatherings. On behalf of his friends and colleagues in the ABE department at Penn State, we send our condolences.
Dan Hofstetter
I am very sorry for your loss, and sad to hear about Ken’s passing. Dr. Lomax was one of the most influential professors I ever had the pleasure to work with at UD. I took two of his classes, and also worked for him one summer in the field. He taught me it is wise to pick a more permanent landmark when driving to a farm field than a trash barrel on the corner 🙂 One time when following him back to the minivan, the rear liftgate was raised and he walked right under it. I followed, but being 6’6″ I didn’t make it. I think it hurt him more than me – he was such a kind man. He will be missed.
NanC McKelvey Carnes
I am so sorry to know of Ken’s passing. I am a school classmate of his. I was the mascot when he was the major. I used to drive him crazy clowning around on the football field. I was so happy to see him at our 50th reunion. He had become such an accomplished man, and so handsome. Please accept my condolences. I am praying for you and him.
Becky Ashley
Nancy – So sorry to hear of your husband’s passing. I had forgotten that he and Duane were related through their Zebley ancestry. You have our deepest sympathy and condolences.
Bob and Donna Macheski
Our deepest condolences to you Nancy on the loss of Ken. I so enjoyed the time I spent working with him on the FISH team in carting the food out to the clients. He was such a warm and wonderful person and I so enjoyed his company and getting to know him. We worked well together. Please know that you are are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Gus Cordova
Nancy, I was very saddened to hear that you lost Ken. I remember his gentleness and the love between the two of you.
Jane Tupin
Dear Nancy, We are very sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. Our condolences to you and his family.
The Tupin Family
Donald Drane
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear that you have lost Ken. I am glad that I got to know him through you. I think of you and hope you know that there are many who are there for you, now and in the future.
Kathy (Wright) Potter
I so enjoyed having Dr. Lomax as an advisor and instructor. He was wonderful. I hope the family knows how many students benefited from his passion for teaching.