1944-2026
Kermit Eugene Terrell, age 81, died Monday, January 12, 2025, at his home in Udall, Kansas, with his wife and daughter by his side.
Kermit was born January 20, 1944, in Culbertson, Nebraska, the son of Melvin Kenneth Terrell and Catherine Wilson Terrell. He grew up in the Derby area and graduated from high school there in 1962. He honorably served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.
Kermit was a lifelong learner with a deep love of education. He received a National Merit Scholarship and attended Michigan State University, where he was a member of the Debate team and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. After he served in the army, he returned to Kansas and attended WSU using his GI Bill and got a Master's in Sociology. He was then accepted to Colombia University in New York City, where he was working on his PhD in Sociology. Four years later, he returned to Kansas and assisted his brothers and father in building a home in Augusta, KS that he had designed. When the home was finished, he returned to WSU where he taught math and worked on his second Master's in Computer Science.
He worked as a Software Engineer at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita for 20 years, where he was involved with various software development programs for military aircraft. During his time at Boeing, he was also a member of the company’s volleyball team.
Kermit had a passion for design and created plans for several homes, including the family’s home in Udall. He was a member of the ACLU, an avid reader with a love of fantasy & sci-fi novels, enjoyed playing chess, pingpong, and was very active in politics.
Survivors include wife of 40 years, Tamera Terrell of the home; daughter Erica Terrell of Wichita; brother Ronald Terrell and his wife Doretta of Harvest, Alabama; sisters LaRue Gorychka and her husband Ted of Haysville, Joyce Stegman and her husband Tom of Tucson, Arizona, and Glenna Hinckley and her husband Donald of Wichita.
Private services will be held.
Arrangements are by Affordable Cremations Plus, Wichita, Kansas.
