Kenneth R. Bender
Kenneth R. Bender, 89, Ballwin, Mo., passed away Sunday, April 17, 2016. He was born and raised in Ellsworth, Kan. He served in the U.S. Navy during W.W. II, training as an aviation cadet when the war ended. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from his beloved Kansas State University.
Ken married the love of his life, Evlyn Imogene Rindt, in 1950. Life was never the same after her passing in 1997 from ovarian cancer. Ken credited Evlyn for being the stabilizer for the family’s many moves and turning new houses into loving, Christian homes. His children give them both that credit.
Ken retired as vice president of information systems of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company on March 1, 1991, after 42 years of service. He was the chief information officer responsible for the centralized computer hardware and software development and data center operations for the company. He headed and organized the first business information group at Southwestern Bell headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., in 1964. In 1977, he was appointed vice president of data systems, where he managed all computer operations, programming and technical support for the company. In 1984 he chaired the Bell System Council that was responsible for the planning and transition of software from AT&T to the Bell operating companies.
Ken was a member of the Council of North American Information Management Executives for the Conference Board;. He served on the board of directors of Inroads/St. Louis, an organization that assists minority youth development within the business community. He served on the board of directors for the Center of Emerging Technologies that assists start up technology companies in St. Louis. He served on the finance committee and the performance improvement committee of the Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. He has been a member of the Dallas, Texas and St. Louis chapters of the Financial Executives Institute since 1967, serving as president of the St. Louis chapter in 1982-83. He also served as president of Trinity Lutheran Church, Chesterfield, Mo.
Ken was preceded by his parents, Emma and Adolph; brothers, Gordon and Harold, and sisters, Mildred and Gladys.
He is survived by three children, Doug Bender (Tish), Cheri Kaempfe (Terry), and Randy Bender; five grandchildren, Wes Bender (Lauren), Andy Kaempfe (Jami), Chris Kaempfe (Karli), Zach Bender, and Dana Kaempfe, and two great-grandchildren, Grayson Kaempfe and Luke Kaempfe.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 22, at Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road, Ballwin, Mo.
Memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 12345 Manchester Road, Des Peres. Mo.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lutheran High School Association.
