In memory of

Kenneth Leroy Kear

Sep 7, 1921
Feb 19, 2020

Obituary

Kenneth Leroy Kear of Van Wert, Ohio passed away on Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 at the age of 98. After months of failing health, he died peacefully in his home in Salem, Oregon with his family by his side.

Kenneth was born on September 7th,1921 in Van Wert, Ohio to Ethel Kear (Atha) and Floyd Kear. As a boy growing up on a farm during the depression, he learned hard work alongside his father to help support his family.

After completing high school he continued to work hard at a variety of jobs to help support himself and his family. The most interesting was as a speakeasy slot machine mechanic. In 1940 he became a lineman for Ohio Bell. On July 24,1941 he witnessed the collapse of the Old Wagon Bridge on the Maumee river while up on a pole at the end of the bridge hanging telephone lines, surviving to tell the story many times in later years.

In 1941 while working the line job in Waterville, Ohio he met the love of his life, Margarette Helene Downs, whom he affectionately called Peg. Kenneth enlisted in the Navy in 1942 after Pearl Harbor and spent the remainder of WWII on the USS Denebola. Ken and Peg made the difficult choice to wait to consider marriage until after the end of the war.

On Easter Sunday, April 21st,1946 Margarette and Kenneth were married in Waterville, Ohio. They remained devoted to each other for 73 years.

Following WWII, Kenneth chose to remain in the Navy. His remaining years of service were primarily with the Pacific and Mediterranean Fleets. The last ship he served on was the USS Boston CAG-1. While at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in California he decided to retire. Kenneth was honorably discharged in 1962 as a CWO3. He was very proud of his military career and service to his country.

After retiring from the Navy, Ken and Peg settled their family in Fremont, California. He began a new career at Lockheed Martin and became a liaison between Lockheed, Nasa and the Navy while working with the Poseideon and Trident Missile Programs. Ken was also a standing member of the American Legion and Fleet Reserve Association.

In 1968 Ken and Peg bought land in Pioneer, California located in the Northern Sierra Nevada Foothills. In 1978 they built their dream house where they lived until moving to Oregon in 2015. Ken’s hobbies included tooling leather and woodworking. He was an accomplished furniture builder. He designed and built furniture for the Caples Lake Resort cabins, as well as building furniture for their home, and cradles for his grandchildren. Ken played guitar from an early age and loved country-western music.
He also enjoyed fishing and camping, taking his family on many camping excursions. Loving the outdoors, Ken and Peg also managed the Woods and Silver Lake Campgrounds in California for five years.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Ethel Kear (Atha) and Floyd Kear, brother Eugene Kear and two sisters, Margaret Ford and Betty Huzzar. He is survived by his wife Margarette Helene (Downs) Kear, four daughters; Linda Kear-Preston (husband Corey), Janet Rehfeldt (husband Brian), Carol Lykins (husband Fred) and Mary Kappler, four Grandchildren; Aaron, Tim and Mary Beth (Davis); Ashlee Thomas
and five Great-grandchildren Aidan, Lydia and Katherine (Aaron Davis), Benjamin (Tim Davis) and Kason (Ashlee Thomas).

Service Information

Military Honors Service
Friday September 4th, 2020 @1:30 PM
Willamette National Cemetery
11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Happy Valley, OR 97086

 

Messages of Sympathy

  1. Paula Bibby, Adjutant, Amador Post 108 says:

    Ken was a valued member of The American Legion. He will be sorely missed. We express our deepest sympathies for your loss.

  2. Laura D. Kear-Meyers says:

    I am the daughter of Billie G Kear and granddaughter of Robert E Kear. I had the pleasure of meeting my great uncle Bud/Kenneth at my great Aunt Bettes home in Ohio after my grandfather passed. He was a joy to speak to and over the years I wished I had gotten to know him better. My Dad thought so highly of him and mentioned a few fond memories over the course of several years. He was a huge part of my dads life and very loved. I am so sorry for you and your families loss. Know that I am thinking of you all.

  3. JoAnn J. Kear says:

    Uncle Bud was very important to my late husband, Bill all through his life. May Uncle Bud rest in peace.

  4. Don Enos says:

    One of kind classic guy, I always loved talking to him or listening I should say
    Ken was a great man, he always welcomed me into his home, like I was part of the family! He will be missed!

  5. Keli Kost says:

    God bless your dad ( to all you sisters). What a great man and a wonderful life he had. You should be very proud of him. How nice that the grandkids knew him and the great grandkids were able to meet him also. So blessed. God bless your mom, I can’t imagine how hard this is for her and all of you. Just know your dad is with you everyday, even though you can’t see him he sees all of you. God bless you all❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  6. Staff of Johnson Funeral Home says:

    Kenneth was an amazing man and served his country well. We are all indebted to men like him. Thank you for trusting Johnson Funeral Home.

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