Edwin C. Kemp, 64, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2022, at his home.

Born September 4, 1957, in Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of Clifford Eugene and Mary Elizabeth (Stein) Kemp. He was raised and received his education in Bellevue, Ohio, graduating from Bellevue High School in 1975.

Ed joined the United States Air Force in September of 1975. He was first stationed at KI Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan and later transferred to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. He served at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan for five years before being transferred a final time to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. Ed was very proud of his time in the United States Air Force, retiring as Technical Sergeant in September of 1993.

After retiring, Ed began a career in Non-Destructive Testing at Strother Field. He later moved to Indiana, working in Non-Destructive Testing for Rolls-Royce, before returning with his sister to Bellevue. Ed returned to Kansas, moving to Winfield in April of 2016. He was united in marriage to Dena Patterson on January 20, 2017, in Enid, Oklahoma. The couple made their home in Winfield.

While installing bleachers at Mid-America Dragway in 2018, he met the Ault family, who introduced Ed to the world of drag racing. He began racing his 2012 Dodge Challenger and in 2021, went to Nationals where he received his NHRA license number. In addition to racing, Ed enjoyed attending car shows, antiquing, and shooting guns.

His family includes his wife Dena Kemp of Winfield; his children, Jonathan Kemp and wife, Brandy of Clearwater; Carolynn Francis and husband, John of Clearwater; Brandon Eckels of Enid, OK; Kelli Porter and husband, Jacob of Enid, OK; his sister Kathy Kemp of Bellevue, OH; his mother-in-law Margie Wise of Enid, OK; his brother-in-law Martin Wise and wife, Brenda of Crescent, OK; his grandchildren, Lillian Kemp, Trista Francis, Samantha Francis, Allison Cook, Marissa Riebel, Kelby Eckels, Timothy Eckels, Nikoli Eckels, April Eckels; and his great granddaughter Kitira Riebel.

In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Denise A. Jennings.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. at Miles Funeral Service in Winfield. Graveside funeral services with military committal honors will follow at 1:00 P.M. at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery.