Kenneth A. Pearson

Family and friends will be received at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

A funeral home service will begin at 12:00 PM. A livestream of the service may be viewed here

Burial will follow at Wiltwyck Rural Cemetery.

Kenneth A. Pearson, 93, of Kingston passed away Monday December 29, 2025 at the Ivy Lodge Assisted Living in Saugerties. Born in Syracuse, NY, he was the son of the late Arnold J. and Edith (Potts) Pearson.

As a member of St. James United Methodist Church, he was a Lay Leader, Communion Steward, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday school teacher for 5th grade and a class for English As A Second Language students. He was challenged to learn and share as a teacher in adult Bible studies.

The family went on Lay Witness Missions (Christians witnessing to Christians).

Ken was an electrical engineer at IBM for 38 years, retiring as a senior engineer. He began when a computer filled an entire room. A concerned mentor found where he belonged, not where he started, but with smaller components. He thrived, enjoyed and benefitted his company, publishing a paper in a technical journal and receiving several patents for IBM. With an interest in young people, he said "Don't give up if you don't succeed at first, continue to explore, hopefully finding a mentor, and becoming a mentor." Coming from this background, he became a manager for about 6 months. He was unhappy, lost sleep, and went back to his regular place. He did not like judging people.

Ken's concern and compassion opened doors for him to help others. IBM downsized. With his pension he was able to have a 28 years second career of testing and support for people with disabilities through NYS VESID now Accesses VR. He was inspired by what they accomplished, their humor, outlook on life, and involvement with other people even when house-bound. God opened his eyes to all the amazing ways disabled people interacted and contributed.
There was an unofficial barrier between native Kingstonians and the new IBMers. We saw this at church. This did not happen to Ken, he seemed to fit and was comfortable wherever he was (with the exception of his first IBM experience).

His time in the U.S. Navy Reserve saw two weeks' active duty at sea and on land for several years. Vacation was camping in a remote campsite in the Adirondacks.

He published several Christian articles. Ken was a Rotarian for 30 years, helping to develop Rotary Park at Kingston Point, kept records for Radio Days, was Rotarian of the Year 2013-2014, and involved his grandchildren Becky and Ben in Rotary Park and Kingston Clean Sweep. He loved nature, the mountains, being by and on the water, reading, fellowship, Bible studies, and gardening.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Tunnel To Towers or Hudson Valley Hospice.

Survived by spouse and best friend, Marty, married for 70 years. Also surviving Kim A Pearson (Vicki), Julie Pearson, Dr. Scott Pearson (Kathryn), Mia Elizabeth; Laurel A. Catellier (Thomas), Gretchen Riker-Willig (Chris), Schaun and Kenneth Laible; Andrew Riker (Amanda), Fiona and Michaela; Eric Pearson (Elaine Zacharczenko), Zachary; Hung Wai Lee (Manyu), Becky and Benjamin. In addition to his parents, Ken is predeceased by his brother Arnold Pearson Jr.

The family expresses their gratitude to the staff of Ivy Lodge and Hudson Valley Hospice.