Kenneth O. Dunlap

Dunlap, Kenneth Orville "Ken," age 69, loving husband, brother, father, and "Papa," lost his courageous battle with lung cancer on June 2, 2012. Ken was born in Wichita, KS, and attended Riverside Elementary and John Marshall Jr. High. He attended Mount Hope H.S., Hutchinson Jr. College, and graduated from Wichita State University in 1965. After 37 years in public education, Ken retired from the Wichita Public Schools in 2002. During his career, Ken established the district's first Adaptive Physical Education curriculum at Levy Special Education Center in the early 1970s. He taught special education and coached at East H.S. for 18 years, where he developed the first community-based instruction program, assisting special students with job readiness and placement. After leaving East High, Ken served as a Special Education Coordinator for five years and as Principal at Starkey, Ketch, and Heartspring. In 1996, he established Chisholm Life Skills Center, where students ("differently-abled" students as he called them) were taught work and life skills to transition into independent living. Ken also served on the Wichita Police Department Interview Board and was a member of the Sedgwick County Physical & Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board for more than 20 years. Ken enjoyed hunting, fishing, and boating, and after retirement, he and Jan increased their lake time and began antiquing and traveling. One of Ken's greatest joys was spending time with his grandsons; swimming with them at the lake, cheering them on at sporting events, and loving them with his whole heart. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, H. Orville and Pauline Dunlap and his brother-at-heart, Robert Thomas. Ken is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jan, of the home; one sister, Orlene Thomas, of Mulvane; two daughters, Kendra (Glen) Chambers of Alexandria, VA, and Brenda (Matt) Fraser of Overland Park, KS; four grandsons, Benjamin, Luke and Zachary Chambers and William Fraser. Services will be held at Smith Mortuary in Derby on Wednesday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation on Tuesday, June 5, from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.; family present from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Donations to Kansas Wildlife and Parks would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.

Jan and the family set up a Caring Bridge site to keep friends and family posted over the course of Ken's illness. You are invited to visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/kendunlap.