Kenneth Clayton Barnt

Kenneth Clayton (Ken) Barnt, of Bay City, died December 22, 2018, at The Carriage House of Bay City after a long series of illnesses. He was born August 23, 1942, the only child of the late Henry C. and Lylah Belle (Brown) Barnt. He attended Bay City Public Schools, graduating from Handy High School in 1960, then attended Bay City Junior College and was an original student at Delta College when it opened in 1962.
After working for several years at Buick Motor Division in Flint, he owned and operated News Delivery Service in Bay City from 1968 until 1995, originally as an agent of the Detroit News, and later as the Bay County agent for The Saginaw News. He then spent summers as a building maintenance man for Ryba's Corporation on their properties on Mackinac Island, until a stroke forced him into retirement.
Ken, nicknamed "Torch" by his high school friends, was well known as a local mechanic, and travelled throughout the state competing in Demolition Derby's from the early 1970's into the 1990's. He was named Michigan Sportsman Driver of the year by USA Demolition Derby in 1983.
He is survived by his children Brian Barnt of Plainfield, IL, Craig (Janet) Barnt of Midland, and Ginger (Todd) Turner of Red Rock, TX; grandchildren Kenneth S. (Katherine), Anna, and Karen Barnt of Midland, Taylor Sanford of Freeland, and Paige and Amber-Rose Swanton, of Red Rock, TX, and great-grandchildren Mollie, Henry, and Rhys Barnt of Midland. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his second wife, Pamela Louise, and an infant daughter, Mary Regina.
Per his wishes, he has been cremated. A remembrance of life will be held at 1:00 to 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 29, at the Gephart Funeral Home, 201 W. Midland St., Bay City. The family would like to thank the staff of the Carriage House for their excellent care of our father for several years and McLaren Hospice for their end-of-life care.