Kenneth B. Hancock, 94, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 12, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kenneth was born in Wichita, Kansas on July 3, 1922 to Lloyd and Cora Hancock. He graduated from Dodge City High School and attended Wentworth Military Academy.

As a kid growing up in Wichita, Kenneth was entranced by flight. At thirteen years old, with every three dollars he earned as a delivery boy for a local drug store, he would sneak off to the local airfield for 30 minutes of flight time and instruction. At 16 years old he revealed to his parents what he had been doing and obtained his private pilot's license. There was little question, then, that with the outbreak of World War II, Kenneth would enlist in the Army Air Corps.

He served in World War II as a B-25 pilot flying 66 combat missions over Northern Italy. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 6 clusters, the Europe Africa Middle East Medal with 6 Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.
Kenneth married Verna V. Lickteig on October 30, 1943 and had three children, Susan, Sandy, and Lewis. They were married 46 years until her death in 1990. Kenneth was involved in the establishment of Boot Hill and Front Street in Dodge City and was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Kenneth worked as an Air Traffic Control Supervisor for the FAA for 20 years in Kansas City and Great Falls, Montana. He retired in 1977 and moved back to Dodge City to work with his uncle Ross Bell on the family farm in Bucklin. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf, bowling and gardening. He married Leona Hartzfeld Bell in 1997, they were married 15 years until her death in 2012. He then moved from Dodge City to live with his son in Salt Lake City.

Kenneth is survived by three children, Susan (Randy Hiner), Page, Arizona, Sandra (Charles Mosshart), Protection, Kansas, and Lewis (Pam) Hancock, Salt Lake City, Utah, 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and his faithful Labrador Retriever Kate. Kenneth is preceded in death by his two wives, Verna V. (1990) Leona (2012) and his brother Richard Hancock (2013).

Visitation will be held Friday, March 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and the funeral service will be held Saturday, March 18 at 10:00 a.m. at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, Kansas. Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Bucklin Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to your local Honor Flight organization. The family wishes to thank all the workers from Peak Specialty Home Health and Amada Senior Care for their loving and thoughtful service to him. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.