Michael Kent (Ken) Martin, age 76 of Malvern, died Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at his home.  He was born in Nixa, Missouri on September 16, 1946, to the late Billie Edward Martin and Helen Lee Gamble Martin.  Reared and receiving his early education in Nixa, he went on to earn his PhD in Higher Education Administration from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.  Ken and his family moved to Malvern in August of 1992.  He was the founding president of Ouachita Technical College, now Arkansas State University-Three Rivers.  He was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he served on many boards and committees.  Ken was a United States Army Veteran of the Viet Nam War.

He is survived by his wife, Dana Lee Fisher Martin, to whom he was married on September 4, 1971; by his children, Tamara Martin Carlile of Malvern, Brian William Martin of North Little Rock, and Shalon Lee Martin Thrush of Austin, Texas; by five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Ken was also preceded in death by a brother.

Memorial services with Military Honors will be at two o'clock Saturday afternoon, October 1, 2022, in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home.