Charles Kenneth McCarty, known as Ken or Kenny to those who loved him, often said you could call him anything as long as you didn't call him late for dinner. This was one of many puns Ken tied to his childhood in Marysville, Ohio. He was equally proud of his West Virginia roots, where he was born on September 9, 1942.

After graduating from Marysville High School in 1960, Ken joined the Navy—but loved to surprise people with the fact that he never set foot on a ship. Instead, he served for four years as a naval corpsman and worked at military hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. He often credited the Navy with instilling his knack for organization and an ability to clean anything. His hitchhiking trips home to Marysville frequently brought him through Newark, Ohio—a place he grew to love and ultimately made his permanent home in 1974.

A natural salesman, Ken began working at Arwebb Office Equipment, becoming an expert in everything from ballpoint pens and binder clips to filing cabinets and pedestal desks. Later, as owner of Arwebb, he took great pride in both the business and the service it provided to the community. His support for Newark extended well beyond the office supply world—he offered Arwebb's trucks to the Licking County Food Pantry Network for deliveries and helped launch Newark's first downtown Farmers Market.  He also participated in as many of Newark's community events as he could. He delighted in 'eating his way around the square' during Strawberries on the Square, cheerfully woke at 4 a.m. for the Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Day Breakfast, and made sure to find a good spot to watch the Courthouse Lighting each November.

One of Ken's favorite events was Newark's Lite the Nite Car Show, bringing together two great loves: Newark and cars. He began collecting vintage cars decades ago, with a special fondness for Studebakers. Though he didn't drive them often, he spent many hours cleaning and maintaining his cars and loved showing off his collection.

Ken found joy in life's everyday pleasures—a hot cup of coffee in a Styrofoam cup, a 'well-balanced fork' (his own term), fresh French fries and breakfast at any hour of the day. He had a passion for the weather (and planning around it), loved using real maps to chart a trip, and enjoyed diet sodas and a cold beer.

Most importantly, Ken thrived on connection with others: talking cars with a stranger, hosting a lively get-together, welcoming unannounced visitors, and carrying on a conversation with just about anyone. Above all, Ken cherished the family and friends he gained throughout his life.  Most especially, he adored Barb, the partner and wife who stood by his side for the last 33 years. He never stopped striving to make her happy.

Ken also had a deep affection for animals, particularly his canine companions – Charlie, Lola, Rufus and Tommy - who seemed to instinctively know he was the kind of person worth sitting beside, sleeping on or sharing a snack with.

And while Ken appreciated life until the very end, his final years were marked by the challenge of living with dementia. He and his family were grateful to the many who supported him during this time. He lived for meaningful connections and took comfort in having a plan, but the disease made this difficult, leaving him in a world that felt increasingly unfamiliar. Throughout this period, Ken continued to find much joy in those simple pleasures, in Barb and his faithful dog Tommy.

Ken's family invites you to celebrate a life well lived and a man well-loved from 4:00-7:00 PM on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Reed-Egan Funeral Home in Newark. A brief service with military honors will be held at 4:00 PM, with Fr. Mike Ghiloni as celebrant.

Ken loved visiting the Dawes Arboretum and took countless walks around the cemetery there. He often said the only thing missing from the cemetery was a bench. In lieu of flowers consider a donation to Dawes towards that bench or to your local animal shelter, because every dog or cat deserves a home like Ken provided for his best friends.