Kenneth Martin Porter
Obituaries
Daily Sentinel page 5A - January 6, 2021
Kenneth Martin Porter passed
away peacefully at his home on
December 29, 2020, in Grand
Junction, CO. He was 97 years
old. He was born August 14,
1923, in Siloam Springs, AR, to
Alexander and Edna Porter.
He was preceded in death
by his wife, Juanita A. Porter
on December 14, 2020; sisters, Dorothy Christenson and Alice
Zimmerman; and brother, Morris Porter. He is survived by niece,
Trisha Roy; great-nephews, Scott Crosby and AJ Chacon, and
brother, Wallace Porter.
Kenneth moved to Carlsbad, NM, in 1933. He graduated from
Carlsbad High School in 1941. He then enlisted in the USAF after
Pearl Harbor in 1942.
Ken was commissioned 2nd Lt. in March 1943, he was a basic
flight instructor in Waco, TX, before being assigned to Clark AFB
PI as a B-29 Aircraft Commander.
Ken returned to the US in 1947 as Captain in the Air Force
Reserve. That fall, Ken enrolled at the University of NM.
Ken married the love of his life, Juanita Rosson, August 12, 1948,
and lived a full and happy life with her for 72 years. He graduated
in 1951 with a BA in education and a MA in School Administration
in 1956.
He spent the next 34 years as Elementary Principle at Lowell
Elementary, Taylor Elementary, Clifton Elementary, Scenic
Elementary, Riverside School and Special Education School. In
between Taylor and Scenic assignments, he developed the District
51 Title 1 ESEA Program. Ken retired in 1984.
Ken was active in this teaching profession, both in local leadership
roles and as President of the Colorado Education Assn. in 1964. He
was active in the First Assembly of God Church, serving as Sunday
School Superintendent.
For over 15 years, community service was important to him
as he was involved in Foster Grandparents Program, Habitat for
Humanity, Palisade’s Lions Club and the Special Olympics. Golf
was Ken’s consuming hobby. He was a member of UNM’s 51 golf
team, Lincoln Park, Tiara Rado, and Adobe Creek Men’s Club. He
and his wife, Juanita, shared in their golf interest, playing all the
early courses in Colorado and New Mexico. He took pride in his
skill of fitting and repairing clubs.
Ken and Nita will be deeply missed by those they have left here on
earth. We will take with us, the love and wisdom they have taught
and given to us and will cherish them always. They are together
again.
A combined memorial service for Kenneth and Juanita will be
held Friday, January 8, 2021, at Victory Life Church, 11:00 a.m.;
contact the church for live stream information.
