FRANKLIN
Kenneth Lee Polley, 89, of Franklin, passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in Franklin.
Ken was born Aug. 28, 1926, in Bloomington to Claude and Elsie (Hacker) Polley.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II as a platoon sergeant.
Ken married Evelyn Ferree on October 1, 1946, in Bloomington; they were married for 69 years.
In his younger years, Kenneth helped with the building of the Smith Valley Baptist Church and was a fireman at the Smith Valley Fire Department.
He was a very hard worker, always busy, helping build houses and barns for family.
He loved traveling, especially to Florida, and visiting his old home place “the Hollar” in Unionville. Most of all he loved visiting with his extended family and talking about the old days and places he had traveled to, including New Zealand.
Ken was employed with Golden Guernsey (Best Ever, Prairie Farms) Dairy as a milkman and maintaining the refrigeration units in the trucks and buildings. He retired in 1988 after 40 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Polley of Franklin; seven children, Cheryl (David) Miller of Ellettsville, Denise (Bob) Blake and Brenda (Rick) Shipp both of Whiteland, Janet Lentz and Kenneth (Wendy) Polley Jr., both of Franklin, Linda (William) Gale of Bargersville, Jill (Derrick) Shryock of Trafalgar; four sisters, Phyllis (David) Kleindorfer and Joann Scroggins, both of Bloomington, Pat Poling and Martha Belle Young, both of Unionville, a brother, Bill (Mary Ann) Polley of Bloomington; 17 grandchildren, Andrew and Brett Miller, Marcus and Katie Blake, Heather and Nicole Lentz, Billy and Hannah Gale Sara Strain, Evelyn Ryan, Ricky and Jason Shipp, Kenny III, Annie and Ellen Polley, Trent and Kayla Shryock; two step-grandchildren, Aubrey and Gavin Curry; and 22 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Russell, Austin, Sam, Dennis and Harry Polley; grandson, David Lentz; great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Gale; and son-in-law, Steve Lentz.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Jessen Funeral Home, Whiteland Chapel, 729 N. U.S. 31. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Entombment will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood.
Information: 317-535-6880; jessenfuneralhome.com
