Kenneth I. Free

Kenneth “Ken” Ivan Free, 91, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

He was born October 17, 1934, in Painesville, Ohio, to the late Berton H. Free and F. Louise Nee (Casler) Free. Ken was raised in Perry, Ohio, where he lived with his grandparents, Lewis L. and Mary E. Casler, and worked alongside them on their farm.

Ken attended school in Perry, Ohio and played football for the Perry Pirates. He graduated from Perry High School in 1952.

On October 2, 1954, Ken married Virginia “Ginny” Alene McMillion. They shared a devoted marriage of 68 years, faithfully united in Christ until her passing on May 6, 2023.

In his early years, Ken worked at the Diamond Alkali Factory in Perry. He was also a skilled builder, constructing two homes of his own and assisting others in building theirs.

Ken and Ginny were founding members of Faith Baptist Church in Perry. What began as gatherings in their basement grew into a church family, and Ken played a key role in leading the construction of the church building.

Pursuing his calling, Ken began his college education at Kent State University before attending the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1964. He completed his apprenticeship at the Routsong Funeral Home in Dayton, Ohio. 

In 1969, Ken and Ginny moved to Coshocton after purchasing the former Gibson Funeral Home. In 1988, he designed and oversaw the construction of the current Free Funeral Home on South Second Street.  Ginny worked alongside Ken for the next fifty years until their retirement, forming a lasting partnership in both life and business.  

Ken was a dedicated member of the Coshocton Rotary Club for 48 years and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.   He was honored by the Ohio Funeral Directors for fifty years of service.

Ken is survived by his two sons, Scott (Carmelita) Free of Jackson Heights, NY, and Todd (Holly) Free of New Philadelphia; and six grandchildren: Austin (Tiffany) Free of Sunnyside, NY; Julia Free (Victor Barrere) of Auch, France; Meredith (Wesley) Tenney-Free of Bensalem, PA; Aaron Free of Dublin, Ohio; Drs. Brandon (Taylor) Free of Westerville, Ohio; and Cameron (Stephanie) Free of Stow, Ohio; and one great-granddaughter, Piper Elizabeth Free.

Friends may call at Free Funeral Home, 788 S. Second Street, Coshocton, Ohio, on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Faith Baptist Church in Perry, Ohio, with calling hours one hour prior to the service at the church. Pastor Don Snow will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Jefferson, Ohio.

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