Kenneth Larkin Thrash

February 26, 1920 – June 1, 2012

Kenneth L. Thrash, 92, of Tulsa passed away on June 1, 2012 in his home of natural causes. Kenneth was born February 26, 1920 at the family farm near Perry, OK and was the youngest of three children to Charles William and Myra Esther (Nixon) Thrash.

Kenneth graduated from Perry High School in 1938, and began his college career at Oklahoma A&M (OSU) in Stillwater the following fall. He graduated in 1942 with a degree in Animal Husbandry, and enlisted in the Army, where he served in Britain and France during WWII and was discharged in January of 1946. After returning from Europe , he continued his education at Oklahoma University, earning a Master’s Degree in Public Health. He would spend 37 ½ years serving the Tulsa Water department and Health Department.

It was at the Tulsa Health Department where he would meet his bride of nearly 25 years, Anna (Anne) Marie Stewart of Janesville, WI, they were married on December 14th of 1957, and had one child, Mark Alan in 1958.

Kenneth enjoyed working with his hands, and from an early age he became quite a craftsman. He refinished furniture, enjoyed woodworking, home improvement, and gardening. He was quick to lend a hand to neighbors, and was very handy with anything mechanical or electical. His passion was reading, and he enjoyed biographies and Civil War history.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife Anna Marie (Stewart) Thrash in 1982, his father Charles Thrash in 1958, his mother Myra Thrash in 1982, his sister Wilma Maxine Thrash in 1988, and his brother Charles Hadley Thrash in 1994.

Kenneth is survived by his son Mark and daughter-in-law Carolyn of Owasso, Step-granddaughter Penni Pace Mix and husband Kevin Mix of Norman, step-grandson Timothy Ryan Pace and wife Mikyla of Yukon, and their daughters Makena and Rielle.

Kenneth returned to the family farm after the passing of his brother Hadley in 1994 and called it “home” until 2008, but the time spent in the solitude of the country gave him great pleasure and he was able to find peace at the place he found so lonely when he was young. Because he grew up in the Great Depression, he was very frugal, and President Lincoln screamed aloud as he pinched every penny, but he was generous with those he cared for.

Kenneth will be missed by his family and friends, and we will celebrate his life at Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel on Wednesday June 6th at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, thereafter. Under the direction of Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel.