Kenneth Buzbee

CARBONDALE – Kenneth Von Buzbee passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife Betty (Hiller) Buzbee, son Brent (wife Stacey) and their three children Logan, Kelsey, and Andy; daughter Kendra Crews and her two children Cash Crews and Kylie (husband Trent) and their two children Trip and Beau.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents Dellis and Maude (Pender) Buzbee, son-in-law Chris Crews and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

After graduating from Anna-Jonesboro High School he led a full life that embraced his many talents and attributes.

Ken worked his way through college as a news director and announcer on commercial and public radio (1957-1961). He was one of seven students who put WSIU (then called WSRV) on the air.

He was President of the SIU Young Democrats. Also while in college, Ken met his wife Betty when they performed in the summer musical production of “South Pacific”. The next time their paths crossed, Ken was MC for a contest on campus. He followed up on that encounter by asking her out- and the rest is history. They married in 1961 and celebrated their 63rd anniversary in 2024.

The officer and gentleman, Ken Buzbee, served in the United States Marine Corps on active duty (1961-1964) during which time he participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis Blockade. He loved the Marine Corps so much that after he finished active duty and moved back to Southern Illinois, he joined the Reserves for 23 more years and retired in 1988 as a Lt. Colonel.

The first job he took after active duty was as an insurance supervisor and agent. That lasted until he received a graduate assistantship teaching Political Science.

Besides the Marine Corps, the most rewarding job Ken ever had was serving 4 terms (12 years) in the Illinois Senate (1973-1985). His ability to lead enabled him to acquire many chairmanships, the most sought after being the Appropriations II Committee. No doubt that benefited SIU and all of Southern Illinois. He also served as Chairman of the Energy Commission and was appointed by President Carter to the White House Council on Coal.

Finally, his career culminated in government as Director of the Department of Business Services and Illinois Secretary of State (10 years) where he began by updating the operational system of that department and getting all business up to date.

Semi-retired, Ken conducted an oral history project with some of his former colleagues for the Paul Simon Institute.

It wasn’t all work, Ken had many interests: reading, fishing, public speaking, tennis, traveling, and bicycling which led to him becoming a member and President of the Mississippi River Trail Inc., a non-profit corporation promoting a recreational bicycle trail from the headwaters to the Gulf.

For 13 years, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Charter Bank. In addition, Ken was a member of the Lions Club and the Elks Club, and recently was extremely proud to serve on the SIU Alumni Board.

A Celebration of Ken's Life will be at 10:30am on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at First United Methodist Church at 214 W. Main St. in Carbondale with Rev. Jim Barnett officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ken’s name to SIU Athletics, Gum Drops, UMCOR or the First United Methodist Church Music Program.

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale assisted the family with arrangements. To read the full obituary visit www.meredithfh.com.