Kenneth Lafferty
September 17, 1939 — August 24, 2023
Kenneth Walter Lafferty, 83, of Mt. Airy, MD, loving husband to the late Nancy Lee Lafferty, passed away peacefully in Taylorsville, MD on Thursday, August 24, 2023.
Born in Oil City, PA on September 17, 1939, he is the son of the late Mary Ella Peterson Lafferty Rudolph and the late Walter Bud Lafferty. As a child, he spent time at the family-owned business, Bud Lafferty Chevrolet in Cooperstown, PA with his father. As a teen, he loved spending his time playing baseball and golf. His passion for golf was cultured through his first job as a caddy at the Wanango Country Club in Reno, PA. Ken’s talent served him and the country when he enlisted in the United States Army and was on the Army Golf Team. In 1973, in Columbia, MD, Ken started his business, ARK Engineering, now known as ARK Systems, with two other partners, Roy and Tony, and to this day still operates successfully.
In his 20s he met Nancy at a lounge in Pittsburgh, PA. They married in 1963 and started a family in the Baltimore, MD area, welcoming sons David John Lafferty and Kevin Scott Lafferty. Being a kind and dependable father was of the utmost importance to Ken and he certainly did not disappoint when it came to wholeheartedly loving his family.
Ken and Nancy lived in several places during their marriage, including Columbia, MD; Glenelg, MD; St. Michaels, MD; and The Villages, FL. They also spent many summers in Bethany Beach, DE and Ocean City, MD.
Ken had several hobbies. To name a few, he had a love for golf, corvettes, boating and fishing. He spent many hours on the golf course with his wife, sons, family and close friends. His interest in “vettes” started at a young age while at the family dealership. This passion spanned from 1955 to 2014 - nearly 60 years with various models, but always a convertible. Several boats journeyed with Ken through his years. He and Nancy shared many years traveling throughout the Chesapeake Bay with a cherished group of friends.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy. He is survived by his sons David, and his partner Tammy, of Woodbine, MD, and Kevin, and his wife Stacey, of Madison, CT; his grandchildren, Jared, Preston, Marla and Eloise; his stepbrothers Ted Rudolph of Wilson, NC and Joe Rudolph of Seneca, PA; his sister-in-law, Chris Lafferty of Meadville, PA; sister-in-law Judy Dunker, and her husband Tom, daughter Julie and children of Apollo, PA; cousins Chris Ross of Franklin, PA; Teddy Petersen of Oil City, PA; and Bethany Ross of Pittsburgh, PA. He was also preceded in death by his mother Mary; his stepfather Vernon Rudy Rudolph; his father, Bud; and his brothers, Gary Lafferty and Davey Lafferty.
Visitation will be held at Burrier-Queen Funeral Home in 1212 West Old Liberty Rd Winfield, MD 21784 on September 6, 2023 from 2 to 4 PM p and 6 to 8PM. His family will be present to welcome loved ones.
The funeral service will be held on September 7, 2023 but is private at the funeral home. Interment also private will be in Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens where Ken will be laid to rest next to his wife Nancy. This service will be private.
Following the funeral service, the family invites you to celebrate Ken’s life at Tony Loco's Bar and Restaurant 710 Lisbon Center Dr. in Woodbine, MD from 2p – 5p. All family and friends are welcome.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Salvation Army. Online condolences at www.burrier-queen.com
Born in Oil City, PA on September 17, 1939, he is the son of the late Mary Ella Peterson Lafferty Rudolph and the late Walter Bud Lafferty. As a child, he spent time at the family-owned business, Bud Lafferty Chevrolet in Cooperstown, PA with his father. As a teen, he loved spending his time playing baseball and golf. His passion for golf was cultured through his first job as a caddy at the Wanango Country Club in Reno, PA. Ken’s talent served him and the country when he enlisted in the United States Army and was on the Army Golf Team. In 1973, in Columbia, MD, Ken started his business, ARK Engineering, now known as ARK Systems, with two other partners, Roy and Tony, and to this day still operates successfully.
In his 20s he met Nancy at a lounge in Pittsburgh, PA. They married in 1963 and started a family in the Baltimore, MD area, welcoming sons David John Lafferty and Kevin Scott Lafferty. Being a kind and dependable father was of the utmost importance to Ken and he certainly did not disappoint when it came to wholeheartedly loving his family.
Ken and Nancy lived in several places during their marriage, including Columbia, MD; Glenelg, MD; St. Michaels, MD; and The Villages, FL. They also spent many summers in Bethany Beach, DE and Ocean City, MD.
Ken had several hobbies. To name a few, he had a love for golf, corvettes, boating and fishing. He spent many hours on the golf course with his wife, sons, family and close friends. His interest in “vettes” started at a young age while at the family dealership. This passion spanned from 1955 to 2014 - nearly 60 years with various models, but always a convertible. Several boats journeyed with Ken through his years. He and Nancy shared many years traveling throughout the Chesapeake Bay with a cherished group of friends.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy. He is survived by his sons David, and his partner Tammy, of Woodbine, MD, and Kevin, and his wife Stacey, of Madison, CT; his grandchildren, Jared, Preston, Marla and Eloise; his stepbrothers Ted Rudolph of Wilson, NC and Joe Rudolph of Seneca, PA; his sister-in-law, Chris Lafferty of Meadville, PA; sister-in-law Judy Dunker, and her husband Tom, daughter Julie and children of Apollo, PA; cousins Chris Ross of Franklin, PA; Teddy Petersen of Oil City, PA; and Bethany Ross of Pittsburgh, PA. He was also preceded in death by his mother Mary; his stepfather Vernon Rudy Rudolph; his father, Bud; and his brothers, Gary Lafferty and Davey Lafferty.
Visitation will be held at Burrier-Queen Funeral Home in 1212 West Old Liberty Rd Winfield, MD 21784 on September 6, 2023 from 2 to 4 PM p and 6 to 8PM. His family will be present to welcome loved ones.
The funeral service will be held on September 7, 2023 but is private at the funeral home. Interment also private will be in Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens where Ken will be laid to rest next to his wife Nancy. This service will be private.
Following the funeral service, the family invites you to celebrate Ken’s life at Tony Loco's Bar and Restaurant 710 Lisbon Center Dr. in Woodbine, MD from 2p – 5p. All family and friends are welcome.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Salvation Army. Online condolences at www.burrier-queen.com
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