Kenneth Lee Maynard was born on June 6, 1931 and passed away from complications related to Parkinson’s on May 18, 2022. He leaves behind many who love him dearly – Carolyn, his wife of 69 years; his daughter, Susan de Bondt; his grandson, Alex de Bondt; and many extended family members and friends.
He served his country in both the Naval Reserves and the U.S. Army - 5th Army Engineers.
He was a natural artist and studied drawing on the G.I. Bill. He worked for Allied Stores (Maas Brothers, Burdines, Macy's) for 30 years in their Display department, retiring in 1994. He joyfully continued to create art for the rest of his life.
Papa Ken’s first flight experience was flying soar planes, taking lessons from Pat Hange and Harriet Hamilton at their Lenox Flight School, first in Arcadia, Florida and later in Gardner, Florida.
As his love for flying grew he transitioned to powered flight, soloing on November 28, 1978. He joined SRQ Pilots and Associates, a flying club based at Sarasota International Airport, and enjoyed flying right seat with many of its members. He later bought his own plane, a British Warbird painted Grumman Lynx, and flew it for many years.
He shared his love for the sky with his kids: Susan, of course, and others of us fortunate enough to be picked up along the way.
Flying left seat allowed Papa Ken to coach his right seat co-pilots. There are memories of being “handed” the right-seat controls 200 feet beyond the end of runway 04/22 or 14/32, flying “S” turns over highway 301 on the way to Lakeland for breakfast, and Pop pulling the throttle to simulate “engine-out.” He expecting us to begin flying/gliding to the current best landing spot … a spot we’d better have in mind at all times.
Papa Ken eventually sold “06 Uniform,” but always maintained his love for all things air and space.