Kenneth Dale Carmichael

Kenneth Dale Carmichael, age 87, passed away May 24, 2025 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Kenny was born April 19, 1938 to Claude and Dottie (Babb) Carmichael, the youngest of ten children. He served in the United States Army from 1956-1959, during which he spent one year of service in Korea. After his military service, he met and fell in love with Judith E. Armstrong. The couple married on October 27, 1962 at 8th Street Wesleyan Church (where they attended their entire marriage) and shared 62 wonderful years together. Kenny worked at Bell Fibre a short time, but retired from Peerless Machine in 1995 after 34 years of service. In his retirement, he did construction with his brothers David, Jim, Raymond, and Harold where anyone on the construction site would tell you their banter was more entertaining than any television show. Kenny loved to play fastpitch softball. He pitched for 30 years, including one 17 inning game at Johnny Appleseed Park in Fort Wayne where he pitched his team to victory. He pitched long enough that he was able to play on teams with both of his sons-in-law and his son, who served as his catcher. Over the years, Kenny passed his pitching knowledge along to younger generations by serving as a coach for his son in Little League at Lincoln Field, his daughters in softball at PAL club, and three of his granddaughters on their respective softball teams. Kenny was also a proficient bowler, having once bowled a 299 game in league at Plaza Bowl, something he cheekily reminded his family of regularly. Kenny’s hobbies were golfing, fishing, hunting (game and mushroom), playing guitar and mandolin (in the Harness Family Band), and pitching horseshoe. He loved to garden and preserve the fruits of his labor. Though he was never one to brag, he was known to his family as the master maker of biscuits and gravy and a bag of his homemade jerky never lasted long. He volunteered his time both at Bradner Village (where his wife worked as the activities director) and with his wife’s Brownies and Girl Scouts troops. He loved to travel all over the United States, but his favorite spots were the Mackinac Bridge/Upper Peninsula of Michigan (especially Whitefish Point), Tennessee, Minnesota, and DisneyWorld. Most of all, Kenny loved spending time with his family. He was a faithful attendant of any sporting event, music/dance recital, or band concert of any of his kids, grandkids, or great grandkids. Known also by Bones, Uncle Butch, Butchie, Dad, Pa, Grandpa, and GGPa to know him was to love him. Kenneth is survived by his loving wife Judy; two daughters, Dawn (Rick) Harness of Lafountain and Amy (Jim) Landrum of Swayzee; one son, Kevin (Debbie) Carmichael of Marion; seven grandchildren, Lacy (Jonathan) Saunders, Lindsay (Kylie) Harness, Luke (Victoria) Harness, Hannah Landrum, Caleb (Casey) Landrum, Carrie (Alex) Hutchison, and Stephanie (Dan) Schweibold; nine great-grandchildren, Jacob, August, Lola, Waymon, and Milo Harness, Isaiah Landrum, Chloe and Eli Hutchison, Ava Schweibold; and two sisters, Anna Mae Lewis and Marguerite Wimmer; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents; four brothers, David (Marge) Carmichael, James (Marge) Carmichael, Raymond (Jackie) Carmichael, and Harold (Jennie) Carmichael; three sisters, Ruth (Raymond) Cox, Margaret (Gerald) Bozell, and Kathryn (Gene) Carl; two brothers-in-law, Robert Lewis and John Wimmer; and his special dog, Panther. The family will receive visitors from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN. A funeral to celebrate Kenneth's life will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the funeral home. Pastor John Clark and Pastor Harvey Herring will be officiating with burial following at 1:00 pm at Marion National Cemetery. Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.