Kenneth Lee “Ken” Whipkey, 87, A.B., M.A., M.S., Ph.D., passed away Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. He arrived June 5, 1932, at sunset in Cortland, Ohio, the only son of Marjorie and Charles Whipkey.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Janice; beloved wife, Nell; and stepson, Bill.
He graduated valedictorian of the Class of 1950 from Cortland High School. Fortunately, this was a very small class where abler individuals had moved away.
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, his first real teaching position was in mathematics and science at Vernon High School in Vernon, Ohio. Here, he was privileged to have some of the finest and ablest students he would ever encounter. He apologizes to the great students of Vernon (1954 to 1958) for his inexperience and occasional impatience.
After obtaining his master’s degree, he joined the mathematics faculty of Youngstown University. Here, one of his four office mates was the former Nell Glaser. He and Nell were married March 2, 1962, at St. Johns Episcopal Church, Youngstown, Ohio.
In 1964, they had built their summer cottage, “Aftermath,” on the shores of Lake Dunmore, Vermont. Soon, Aftermath was misnamed as Nell and Ken began to write and re-edit their many math texts here. These include five editions of their best selling text The Power of Calculus. Later, they co-wrote The Power of Relevant Mathematics and The Power of Mathematics. Their books had three foreign editions, Introduction a Calculo, Calculo e Suas Muliplas Aplicacoes and El Poder De Las Mathematics.
Ken earned his Ph.D. degree in 1969 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio. Dr. Whipkey joined the Mathematical Sciences faculty of Westminster College (Pennsylvania). He rose through the ranks to professor and was named distinguished faculty lecturer in 1977.
Leaving Westminster, he was named Stephens Professor of Computer Science at Birmingham-Southern College. His final faculty years were spent in Wilmington at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Ken and Nell were very fortunate to travel to many parts of the world. Additionally, throughout 50 years of marriage, they had residences near Scottsdale, Arizona; Naples, Florida; and Hutchinson Island, Florida. In Naples, they attended Trinity-By-The-Cove Episcopal Church. Nell died in Naples Jan. 5, 2013.
Services for Ken will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Lebanon Chapel in Airlie Gardens. Those desiring, may donate in memory of Nell and Kenneth Whipkey to the Maintenance Fund of Lebanon Chapel, c/o St. James Parrish 25 S. Third St., Wilmington, NC 28401.
In the words of the great American Statesman Barry Goldwater, “The Episcopal Church always does a damn good funeral.”
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
