Kenneth R. “Ken” Brand, 89, of Village at Orchard Ridge, in Frederick County, VA, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Winchester Medical Center.
Ken was born in 1936, in Seneca Falls, N.Y., the 13th child of the late Ernest and Gladys Brand. From a very young age he was raised by his Uncle Courtney and Aunt Mildred. At the age of 17, he enlisted into the US Navy and became an Interior Communications Technician. He served during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1957.
Ken moved to Winchester in 1960 and worked in Washington, D.C., for the Federal Government. He was transferred to Mt. Weather, where he worked on various computer projects as an Electronics Technician. His position was later incorporated into FEMA, where he operated, coded, and repaired mainframe computers. He retired in 1992 after 35 years of federal service. He would later work for the Rubbermaid Corporation for an additional 10 years.
He joined Wesley Methodist Church in 1961. He was active in the church, becoming a Methodist Lay Pastor, teaching Sunday School, heading the Methodist Men group, and the church scouting program.
Ken married Sharon (Smith) Renner in June of 1984. He and Sharon joined the Middletown Presbyterian Church later that year. He became a Presbyterian Certified Lay Pastor and served Wardensville and Lost City (Ivanhoe) churches in West Virginia for 1O years, retiring because of medical issues.
Ken and Sharon celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary last June.
Ken had many hobbies, with HAM radio operations and computers among them. He taught various computer subjects at James Wood HS and would often repair colleague’s computers. He also loved to travel, and with his wife, traveled to the Midwest, West, and Japan. He enjoyed sharing stories about his life.
Surviving with his wife are children Kenneth “Ken” Brand (Maria), Kimberley Brand (Steve Misegadis), and Karen Brand; grandchildren Kenneth Brand II, Elizabeth “Bunny” McIntyre, and James Andrew “Andy” McIntyre; and great-grandchild Serafina “Fifi” Neri.
Along with his parents, Mr. Brand was preceded in death by his twelve siblings: Edith, Mary, Faye, Hope, Mertice, Carolyn, Marie, Jim, Gordon, Phillip, Ernest “Gene”, and Richard.
A Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Omps Funeral Home, South Chapel, 1260 Front Royal Pike, Winchester, VA 22602. Interment will be private.