Oct. 6, 1923 - Aug. 13, 2009

Kenneth O. Houston, 85, of Albany passed away Thursday at his home with his family at his side.

Kenneth was born in Bagnell, Mo., the son of Homer and Gertrude (Baker) Houston. He lived in Bagnell and Nevada, Mo., throughout his childhood, graduating from Nevada High School in 1941.

After high school, he moved to Portland where he worked in the Shipyards. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was in Normandy on the second day of the invasion. He received a Purple Heart and was awarded a Bronze Star for his contributions during the war.

Ken worked for many years for the Department of Defense at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. He also had enjoyed his work as a special needs teacher in Missouri. He had been an owner and operator of several restaurants during his lifetime. He has lived in several Oregon communities, the past six years he has resided in Albany.

Ken attended St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany. He had many hobbies such as cooking and eating good foods, reading, boating, flying, traveling, farming, taking his morning trips to McDonalds for coffee, working on crossword puzzles, the daily jumble and contributing his political views in the local newspaper. He was a weekly watcher of the Lawrence Welk and British Comedy Shows. He loved spending time with his family and especially enjoyed the Fourth of July family celebrations.

Ken was married to Rosa Rodriguez-Alvarado in Las Cruses, N.M., on Nov. 11, 1957.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Rosa of Albany; daughters Mary Lou Kerns of Portland, and Janet C. Johnson and Michele Tegner both of Albany; sons Sam Houston of Newport, Ken Houston of Boring, Rick Houston of Waldport and John Houston of Seattle, Wash.; sister Lavella Broadnox of Muskogee, Okla.; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and five sisters.

A memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany. A private family inurnment will be in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Family requests memorial contributions are sent to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355.