IT IS WITH DEEP SORROW AND MUCH LOVE THAT WE MOURN THE PASSING OF KENNETH JOHNSON CURLE OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH, 2026 AT THE AGE OF 90 YEARS.

HE WILL BE LOVINGLY REMEMBERED AND MISSED ALWAYS BY WIFE OF 29 YEARS, JOHNA; AND DAUGHTER JANE ASHWORTH AND SON-IN-LAW STEVE ASHWORTH; GRANDDAUGHTER ROBYN CLARKE; AND STEP GRANDSONS DANIEL AND JAMES ASHWORTH; GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, OLIVER, OSCAR, MAISIE, ISABEL AND MILLIE AND NIECE MAUREEN SPENCER AND NEPHEW-IN-LAW, MICHAEL SPENCER, AND CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND PAM MILLION, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

KEN WAS BORN IN SPENNYMOOR, COUNTY DURHAM, ENGLAND. KEN'S FATHER, RICHARD WAS A COAL MINER AND HIS MOTHER, MARGARET, HELD SEVERAL POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. HE GREW UP IN THE ACTIVISM OF THE LABOR UNIONS IN THE NORTHEAST OF ENGLAND AND AS A CHILD, KEN WAS IN LONDON DURING THE BLITZ OVER LONDON IN WWII. FROM THESE EXPERIENCES, KEN WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A HEART FOR BRITISH WORKERS' RIGHTS. HE WAS A SENIOR DISTRICT OFFICER FOR THE UNION, NALGO, SERVING THE SOUTHWEST OF ENGLAND FOR 25 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING.HIS WORK LED HIM TO PICKET LINES, TRIBUNALS IN LONDON, AND MEETINGS WITH WORKERS IN THE SMALLEST VILLAGES, AND TO LONDON TO SUPPORT NELSON MANDELA AND MARCH AGAINST APARTHEID.

KEN WAS AN AVID COLLECTOR OF HO GAGE BRITISH MODEL TRAINS AND HISTORIC BUSES. HE LOVED "THE BEAUTIFUL GAME" OF BRITISH FOOTBALL AND PLAYED ON MANY TEAMS, INCLUDING HIS ARMY TEAM WHILE SERVING. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN THE USA AND UK,AND SERVED AS A TRUSTEE IN BOTH. HE WAS CHAIRMAN OFSCHOOL BOARDS IN TAUNTON, ENGLAND AND WAS TREASURER OF THE TAUNTON LABOR PARTY. HE LOVED SINGING, READING, TRAVEL AND THE COUNTY OF CORNWALL.

KEN WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED BY HIS SMILE AND THE TWINKLE IN HIS EYES ALONG WITH HIS NATURAL CHARM. ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM WOULD CONFIDENTLY SAY, "THEY BROKE THE MOLD WHEN HE WAS BORN". HIS LOSS WILL BE ENORMOUS.

KEN'S FUNERAL WILL BE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH WITH VISITATION AT 1:00PM AND SEVICE AT 2:00PM AT O.R. WOODYARD, 1346 S. HIGH ST. COLUMBUS, OHIO 43206. OFFICIANT, REVEREND EDWARD J. ENGELBRECHT.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO: OHIO LIVING HOSPICE; 9200 WORTHINGTON RD. WESTERVILLE, OH. 43082. MY DEEPEST THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO CARED FOR KEN: LARISSA, DANNI, KATHLEEN, JETTA, KKAY, LISA AND TIM