Kenyon ‘Ken’ Lybarger NORTH MANCHESTER – Kenyon “Ken” Lybarger, 68, North Manchester, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at Peabody Healthcare Center in North Manchester.
The eldest of four children, Ken was born in Decatur, on April 13, 1953, to Lindy L. and Norma L. Hamrick Lybarger.
Ken learned the value of hard work at a young age. He began working at Hiatt’s Grocery Store as a meat cutter during his freshman year of high school. After graduating from Manchester High School in 1971, he attended IPFW for a year before entering the workforce. Ken worked at Peabody Seating Company for 13 years and BKB for three years before moving to the orthopedic industry, where he found his niche in quality control. He worked at various orthopedic companies in Warsaw before retiring in 2012.
While working meant a lot to Ken, nothing compared to the love he had for his family. On June 5, 1976, Ken married the love of his life, Diana Lee Poston, in the North Manchester United Methodist Church. During their 45 years together, Ken and Diana shared many memorable times, but nothing was as special to them as their son. Although Ken worked many hours, he still found time for his family. In his free time, he enjoyed taking his family to the Indianapolis 500, Auburn Car Auction, camping trips with the Boy Scouts and many of the area festivals. Ken passed a few of his passions on to his son, Loren, such as his love for the Cincinnati Reds and classic cars. He also had a deep appreciation for astronomy, the outdoors, reading, photography and collecting baseball cards. He had a natural ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and talk about anything.
Ken was a soft-spoken, kind-hearted, Christian man who was baptized into the United Methodist Church at an early age. In his later years, he attended the Congregational Christian Church in North Manchester. He was also a member of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society.
The loving memory of Ken Lybarger will be forever cherished by his parents, Lindy and Norma Lybarger, North Manchester; wife, Diana Lybarger, North Manchester; son, Loren (Mary Sonne) Lybarger, Fort Wayne; brothers: Todd (Amy) Lybarger, North Manchester, and Mark (Kelly) Lybarger, Warsaw; sister, Cindy (Bill) Ogden, Auburn; grandchildren, Kenyon M. and Jennifer I. Lybarger; and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may call Saturday, Oct. 30 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114 West, North Manchester. A memorial celebration of Ken’s life will begin at the conclusion of calling at 2 p.m. Pastor J.P. Freeman and Rev. Steve Bahrt will officiate. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, 600 Beckley Street, North Manchester.
The family of Ken Lybarger has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.
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For those who wish to honor the memory of Ken Lybarger, memorial contributions may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, 7221 Engle Road, Suite 100, Fort Wayne, IN 46804; or Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.
