Obituary of Kenneth S. Carrier

Kenneth S. Carrier, 85, of Dawn Drive, Rome passed away peacefully, Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Faxton-St. Luke's Hospital in New Hartford, NY. He was born on September 8, 1930, the son of Stanley and Gladys Carrier. He graduated from RFA in 1949. Ken was a lifetime member of the First Baptist and Rome Alliance churches. In December of 1950, Ken joined the United States Navy, serving aboard the USS Chloris (ARVE-4) with deployments to the Mediterranean during the Korean Conflict. He received a medical discharge in 1955. Ken was employed at Griffiss Air Force Base for 34 years, retiring in 1987. Ken was a man with many hobbies, interests and hidden talents including; fishing, wood-working, golfing, photography, bird watching, downhill skiing, stamp collecting, metal detecting, and going to garage sales. He followed RFA football, hockey, baseball and Smith Post games, on occasion sharing these events with his grandchildren. He helped to build the Lee Town Park baseball diamonds. His volunteer activities included nursing home ministry, the Rome Rescue Mission, Meals on Wheels, and visiting "shut-ins". Surviving in addition to his wife, Martel, are a son, Brian (Susan) Carrier of Winter Park, FL; a daughter, Sonya (Michael) Lightner of Kennesaw, GA; and four grandchildren, Niall and Keegan Carrier of Winter Park, FL, Deana (Brett) Skeen of Augusta, GA and Lauren Lightner of Kennesaw, GA; and two sisters, LaMoyne George of Oneida, NY and Marjorie Atkinson of Livonia, MI. Ken was predeceased by his sisters, Gertrude Meyer (1975) and Thelma Bowers (2013). A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 6:00 PM at the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street in Rome, NY. Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 5 to 6 PM prior to the memorial service. Those wishing to make a contribution in Kenneth's memory may do so to Hospice and Palliative Care of Faxton-St. Luke's Hospital, 4277 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY 13413.