Kenneth (Ken) Franklin Kelton 71, of University City, Missouri, passed away on October 28, 2025 following complications from lymphoma treatments.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years Emily (Brown) Kelton, of University City, MO, two sons Franklin (Angela) Kelton, of Crestwood, MO, James (Jillian) Kelton, of Maplewood, MO, one granddaughter Aurora Kelton of Crestwood, Mo, one sister-in-law Karen (Rodney) Choate of Belleville, Ark. and many
nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, and great-grand nephews and nieces.

Ken was born August 3, 1954 in Hot Springs, Ark. After graduating from Russellville High School in 1972 he attended Arkansas Tech University where he met his future wife, Emily Ellen Brown. They were married in 1976. After graduation from Tech, he continued his education first at the University of
Tennessee where he earned an MS in Physics (1978). Then he went on to Harvard University for an SM (1980) and Ph.D. (1983) in Applied Physics.
Ken joined Washington University in 1985, where he built a distinguished career that spanned 40 years.

As a scholar, he was renowned internationally for his pioneering research in materials physics, particularly his work on novel phases such as titanium-based quasicrystals and metallic glasses; experimental and theoretical studies of time-dependent nucleation in condensed systems; investigations of the relationship between developing short-range order in supercooled liquids and nucleation processes; and studies of the potential use of quasicrystals for hydrogen storage.

He was installed as the Arthur Holly Compton Professor in Arts and Science (2006). He served as chair of the physics department (2007-2012) and was the inaugural director of the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (2013-2016). He served as mentor to many younger facility members and to
35 PhD students. Among other awards and honors and accomplishments Ken
wrote a book: Nucleation in Condensed Matter – Applications in Materials and Biology.