Kendal "Ken" Gene Hower, 76, died Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Halsey Hall in Ft. Dodge. He was born on July 2, 1933 at Lucas the son of Milton and Doris (Ruppenthal) Hower.

Mr. Hower graduated from Whiting High School in 1951. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1955 with a BA. While at KSU he was in the ROTC program so he was commissioned a 2nd LT and went to his first Army assignment in Fort Benning, GA in the fall of 1955. While in the Army he attended flight school to become a L19 aircraft pilot and then went to helicopter school. In 1959 and 1960 he piloted a L19 aircraft alond dmz zone in Korea. He was honorably discharged from the Army as 1st LT in 1960. Mr. Hower was a salesman for Farmland Industries for several years. He later worked at COOPs in Lewis and Montezuma for a number of years. Mr. Hower was then employed by Orschelins in Dodge City until his retirement. He was currently serving as President of the Iris Club. Mr. Hower was involved in numerous ways with the Howard Gotschall Post #1714 V.F.W. in Dodge City and had several leadership roles on different levels.

Survivors include wife, Mary Dailing of Fort Dodge; three sons, Doug Hower and wife Sanja of Concordia, Mike Hower and wife Mary of Chesterfield, Mo., Steve Hower and wife Liane of Olathe; one daughter, Patty McCullick and husband Mark of Hays; one step-daughter, Jana Koehn and husband Nolan of Dodge City; four stepsons, Jay Lewallen and wife Donna of Bucklin, Carl Dailing and wife Michelle of Germany, Bobby Dailing and wife Linda of Shawnee Mission, Clarence Dailing and wife Peggy of Huggins, Mo.; one brother, Eldon "Bud" Hower and wife Betty of Whiting; two sisters, Lurilla Mayfield of Everest and Ruthetta Hulser of Holton; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren including Cote, Kylee, John, Sarah, Aron, Ryan, Justin, Ashley, Jarrod, Lane, Jade, Lida, Sarah and Angela.
Mr. Hower was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Wilfred Bruce Hower.

Funeral service will be held at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City on Friday, April 2, 2010 at 10:30 AM with Rev. Dick Robbins presiding. Burial will follow at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery in Fort Dodge with military rites by Howard Gotschall Post #1714 V.F.W.. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City on Thursday, April 1, 2010 from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Memorials can be made to Howard Gotschall Post #1714 V.F.W. in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.