March 3, 1934 - February 8, 2021
Ken slipped from the arms of his loving wife Jan into God's care on February 8th, 2021. He was born in Brandon, Manitoba on March 3rd, 1934 to Charles and Mamie Waldon.
He is survived by Jan (nee Olmsted) of Vernon, B.C.; son, Lance (Lainey) of Mansfield, Mass.; grandson, James of Adelaide, Australia; and niece, Brenda (Terry) Foster of Edmonton, Alberta. He was predeceased by his parents and sister Beverly.
Ken completed high school in Portage la Prairie, then attended the University of Manitoba for his degree in Agriculture with a major in Dairy Science. It was there he met Jan, with whom he would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this year.
He then worked in nine of ten provinces for Agriculture Canada, including as Region Director for Ontario and Manitoba, responsible as Chief Liaison between the ministry and industry of Ontario. In 1982, Ken transferred to Alberta Agriculture as Head, Dairy Processing Branch, until his retirement ten years later.
Ken and Jan then moved to their retreat near Vernon which was a return home for Jan.
Ken enjoyed badminton, golf, sailing, cross country skiing, competitive shooting, woodworking, photography, hiking and back country trail rides, as well as growing orchids.
With Jan, he founded the Friends of Fintry Provincial Park Society, and served on the board of the North Okanagan Naturalists, the provincial federation, the North Okanagan Historical Society, Okanagan Historical Society, Mackie Lake House Foundation, All Saints Anglican Church, North Okanagan/Shuswap Crime Stoppers, Prostate Cancer Support Group, North Okanagan Community Concerts Association, and Emergency Support Services.
With Jan, he was awarded the 2008 Central Okanagan Heritage Society Award, a life membership in Friends of Fintry and in 2011, he and Jan were named Vernon's Citizens of the Year. They received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteerism in 2019.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions for number of people present at any gathering, Ken's Funeral Service which will be held at All Saints Anglican Church on Saturday, March 6th, 2021 at 2 pm will be private. However the service will be made available to watch live online at the following link:
https://youtu.be/gEH6KyQZ9qM
As an expression of sympathy, those who wish to do so may send donations in memory of Ken to the All Saints Anglican Church Building Fund, 3205-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 4W8.
Cremation arrangements were made with Bethel Funeral Chapel Ltd.,
5605 - 27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5