Kenneth R Pannell

Kenneth Ray Pannell went to be with his Lord and Savior in the early morning of July 22, 2023. In the days leading up to his death, he had been surrounded by his family, caregivers, friends, and pastor. Ken was born on October 31, 1942, to Frank James and Mattie Almeda (Sartain) Pannell in Walnut, Mississippi. He was the oldest of nine children and a caring and protective "Bubba" (brother) to them all. His father served in the U.S. Army and the family moved often. When Ken was 10, he traveled by ship with his mother and four younger siblings to Germany where they would live for the next four years on the Army base in Manheim. Ken attended Fort Knox High School in Fort Knox, Tennessee and in November 1960, just after turning 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he would learn electronics and serve his country for the next four years. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, he accompanied his parents and siblings on their move to Fort Wainwright, Alaska where his father had been transferred. He loved Alaska so much that he decided to stay. It was in Alaska that Ken met Sandra (Sandi) Griffith. She was a switchboard operator for the NASA/RCA satellite tracking station at Gilmore Creek and Ken was a teletype communication systems operator. He fell head over heels for her and they were married nine months later, on December 9, 1966, in the Fairbanks Church of the Nazarene, where Sandi's dad, Reverend Raymond F. Griffith was pastor. In 1969 they moved to Wenatchee where Ken attended Wenatchee Valley Community College on his GI Bill. He graduated at the top of his class, often taking more than 20 credits a quarter. Upon his graduation, he was offered a job at WVCC where he was responsible for the installation and maintenance of all the telephone and electronic networking on campus. He was the IT guy before there was ever such a thing and was able to access the internet, which connected university campuses around the country before the internet was available to consumers. He loved gadgets and electronics and was always keen to get his hands on the latest device or gizmo. In 1975 Ken and Sandi welcomed their first daughter, Lisa and in 1978, Angela was born. Ken was a devoted father. He was the dad that could always be found at every dance performance, piano recital, choir concert, sports practice, and game. It didn't matter if they were home or away, he'd be in the stands yelling louder than anyone else. In the last 15 years after his IBM (Inclusion Body Myositis muscle disease) diagnosis, he became less able to leave the house and relied on Sandi and his amazing caregivers, Anna, Amelia, and Elaina to care for him full-time. On July 20, 2023, after a brief stay in the hospital he was baptized, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Gloria Bowen and Patsy Bowen, his mother-in-law Hazel Griffith, and his father-in-law, Raymond Griffith. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandi, his daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa (Jared) Plesha, and Angela (Christopher) Swindle, his precious granddaughter, Klare Plesha, his siblings, Richard (Judy) Pannell, Pam (Steve) McNatt, Daniel (Caryn) Pannell, David (Trish) Pannell, Jamie Pannell, and Mary Ann Neidl. His brothers- and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, numerous friends, and extended family. In lieu of flowers please consider making a monetary donation to Home Care & Hospice Services through Confluence Health or to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society.

Kenneth R Pannell

October 31, 1942 - July 22, 2023