Kenneth L. Alford of Hermiston lost his struggle with COPD on Oct. 22, 2017 at the age of 69.
He was born on Dec. 5, 1947 in Goldendale, Wash. to Thomas and Velda Alford.
He grew up and attended school in The Dalles. He joined the Marine Corps in 1966 and proudly served for four years, including 13 months in Vietnam.
Ken married the love of his life, Reta Cox, in Maupin in 1979. He helped raise his stepsons, Stacey and Joseph, whom he loved dearly and enjoyed teaching to fish and camp in the mountains.
He worked many jobs, but he is best known for Alford’s Home Building & Remodeling, a construction business he owned and operated in Hermiston for 20 years. He totally remodeled their house one room at a time and made it their home.
Ken enjoyed many hobbies, such as woodworking, fabricating, mechanic work, golfing, four wheeling, fishing (especially steelhead and salmon fishing on the Deschutes near Tygh Valley), and hunting for elk was his passion.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Rita, of Hermiston; stepsons, Stacey Hammer of Pendleton and Joseph Hammer of Echo; and two very special friends, Mark Born of Hermiston and Thomas Fisher, his Vietnam veteran friend from Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his parents and loving natural grandparents.
No services are being planned. The family suggests memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.
To leave an online condolence for the family, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
