Kenneth Paul St. Louis

On Friday, March 13, 2009 Kenneth Paul St. Louis died at Anne Arundel Medical Center from pulmonary fibrosis. Ken was born February 22, 1949 in Balmat, New York, to the late Edith and Donald St. Louis. He graduated from Gouverneur High School, Gouverneur, New York, and entered military service with the US Air Force, serving in Anchorage, Alaska and Pleiku, Viet Nam as an Air Traffic Controller. Ken later worked for the Federal Aviation Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration until he retired in 2004. Ken was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Association. Ken was very active in youth ice hockey programs in the area, having coached for over 20 years with the Bowie Ice Arena and helped established the DeMatha Catholic High School Ice Hockey Team where he was the assistant head coach for over 5 years, and the team earned several regional championships. Ken was passionate about his love of ice hockey and he devoted many hours to instilling that love of the game with anyone who would listen, but especially the kids he coached, their parents and fans of the game. He was well known for his bench antics, especially with referees. In addition to ice hockey, Ken loved fishing, and camping at Jacque Cartier State Park on the Canadian border at the Thousand Islands in New York, and playing Santa at the annual Christmas party he hosted for family and friends for almost 30 years. He also loved to cook and was always in the kitchen, cooking up something, but ever searching for just the right spaghetti sauce recipe. He finally gave up the quest, turning over those duties to his wife since he thought her sauce always turned out right. She never told him that her secret ingredient was a little sugar. Ken is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patty, of Centreville, Maryland, and two children, who brought him great joy and happiness, and of whom he was completely devoted and exceedingly proud of their accomplishments and the lives they had built; Lisa, of Kent Island, Maryland, and Brian of Piney Orchard, Maryland. In addition to his children, Ken is survived by his son in-law, Justin Couture, and daughter-in law , Emily Higgins St. Louis, both of whom he welcomed as wonderful additions to his family, loved as his own, and considered perfect life companions for his children. Ken had two grandchildren, Alexander Luc Couture, and Valarie Ann Couture, who was born two days before her Poppy passed away. Ken is survived by a brother, Donald (Beau) St. Louis, of Turin, New York, his sisters, Alberta Hartman of Star Lake, New York and Helena Klock of Fine, New York and brother in-law, Gary (Ticker) Klock, of Fine, New York, and sister in-law, Patty M. St.Louis and her son, Todd Patrick St. Louis, of Gambrills, Maryland. Ken was preceded in death by his brother, David Todd St. Louis and his sister Ann Morley. Ken had many other loving and caring nieces and nephews who supported him from Colorado, North Carolina, New York and Vermont. Ken was blessed with many devoted friends who were always there for him, and quick to spin a good yarn about PATCO days, adventures on the job at NOAA, snake sightings and exploding golf balls, and feed into his quick wit and entertaining personality. Ken was never at a loss for a good story. A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 408 South Liberty Street, Centreville, MD 21617. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia with full honors on Thursday, April 23, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers contribution may be made to your charity of choice. On line condolences made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com.

Kenneth Paul St. Louis

February 22, 1949 - March 13, 2009