Obituary of Kenneth W Smith

<b>Lexington, Kentucky</b> Lexington - Kenneth W. Smith, 65, died November 7, 2013. He is survived by his wife Sally Whalen Smith. Kenneth was born on June 10, 1948 in Mayfield, Kentucky to the late Harry and Mary Marie Wilson Smith. He received his BA in 1971 from Murray State University and his JD from the University of Kentucky in 1974. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Melissa Anne Whalen, of Lexington, sons, Robert Smith, Jon K. Whalen, and Michael B. Smith, grandchildren, Jonathan Whalen, Serena Smith, Allie Smith, Emily Whalen, Tyler Whalen and one great grandchild, Kendrick Whalen. In his profession Ken is regarded by Federal and Circuit judges as well as every attorney who has known him to be one of the pre-eminent trial attorneys in the history of the Fayette County Bar Association. In 1975 he was hired and mentored by Commonwealth's Attorney, Pat Molloy and he subsequently became the First Assistant in the office. In six years he earned the reputation of being an exemplary prosecutor. In 1982, Ken joined the prestigious law firm, STITES and HARBISON, and under the tutelage of B. L. Kessinger, became a highly respected civil trial attorney in the areas of medical malpractice defense, product liability defense and bad faith litigation. In 1992, Ken and Larry Roberts formed a partnership, during which he focused his trial skills on defending physicians from medical negligence allegations and defending complex criminal cases. When Mr. Roberts was elected County Attorney in 2006, the firm of Roberts and Smith was dissolved. In the following years until his death, despite severe health complications and physical disabilities, Ken continued his active and extraordinarily successful representation of physicians throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His passion for helping people through his legal trial skills overrode his own physical well-being. In his last years of law practice he loved his partnerships, associations and close friendships with Margaret Pisacano, Greg Jenkins, Clay Robinson, Hans Herklopz, Mark Nichols and most importantly, his loyal paralegal for thirty five years, Ginger Cook. A gathering of family and friends will be Monday, November 11, from 6 until 8pm at Clark Legacy Center, Brannon Crossing. Graveside services will be Tuesday at 2pm at The Lexington Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Arthritis Foundation. www.clarklegacycenter.com <b>Funeral Information</b> A Gathering of Family and Friends will be from 6-8pm, November 11, 2013 at Clark Legacy Center, Brannon Crossing. Burial will be Tuesday, November 12th at Lexington Cemetery at 2pm.