Kenneth C. Carson, Jr., 81, of Essex, formerly of Granby, died Sept. 25 at the Aaron Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chester. Ken was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 28, 1931, son of the late Kenneth C. and Elizabeth (Scandrol) Carson. He was raised and attended college in Pittsburgh and moved to Granby in 1957.

Ken was the director of Personnel at the Cigna Health Insurance Company in Bloomfield, retiring in 1987. Following his retirement, he joined People Management in Avon. While a resident of Granby, he served the community as a member and former chairman of the Board of Education and enjoyed coaching Babe Ruth Baseball.

Ken became a resident of Essex in 1981. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Essex and the Ancient Order of Weeders. He was also a genealogist and longtime volunteer at the Godfrey Library in Middletown.

He is survived by his children, Kimberly Riggott and her husband Ted of East Hartland, Kathleen C. Atwood and her husband David of Exeter, New Hampshire, and Kenneth C. Carson III and his wife Leslie of East Sandwich, Massachusetts. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his beloved life partner, Jean Van Sickle of Essex, and all of the Van Sickle children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his grandson, Matthew Atwood, and his brother, Donald Carson.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m., at the First Congregational of Essex, 6 Methodist Hill, Essex. Private burial will be held in Riverview Cemetery, North Main St., Essex. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to the VNA Community Healthcare, 753 Boston Post Rd., Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook, is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of Ken or leave a condolence for his family please visit www.rwwfh.com.