Kenneth Dale Upton, 77, died on October 31, 2010. Ken was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on January 11, 1933. He graduated from Central High School in Muskogee and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Northeastern State College. He was married to Jo Upton for nearly fifty-seven years at the time of his death.
Ken enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in Muskogee in 1950 and served in active duty with the HQ Co., 3rd Battalion 279th Infantry, 45th Division in Japan and Korea until 1952. He continued to serve in the Oklahoma National Guard in Muskogee until his retirement in 1971 at the rank of Sergeant Major, E9. He always considered the military his second family and proudly served his country.
Upon separation from active military service, Ken worked for nearly ten years as Personnel Director for Leake Industries in Muskogee. He later served the City of Muskogee from 1973 to 1978, first as Personnel and Safety Director, later as Public Safety Director, and finally as Assistant to City Manager. After leaving City employment, he was Administrative Vice President for Smith Oil Company in Muskogee until he and his wife moved to Houston, Texas, in 1979 to form Video Home Show, a business that produced and marketed sales and training videos for various businesses. While there, one of his favorite projects was serving as a licensed handgun instructor for A Texas Shooter, another business he started.
In 2005, Ken and his wife returned to Oklahoma and settled in Broken Arrow. Ken served as President of the Muskogee Jaycees, was elected City Councilman for the City of Muskogee, and was appointed Chairman of the Muskogee Bicentennial Committee and Chairman of the Police Committee of the Oklahoma Crime Commission. He delighted in riding motorcycles and playing golf.
Ken is survived by his wife, Jo Upton; son, Kenneth Upton, Jr; daughter, Leslie Ann Smith; son-in-law, Crosslin Smith and granddaughter, Kellie Marie Smith.
He was predeceased by his parents, James Thomas Upton and Mary Pauline Upton; sisters, Fannie Kennedy and Zella Jarrad and brothers, Bill Upton, Lawrence Upton, Richard Upton, Charles Upton and Paul Upton.
He is survived by sisters, Ada Leona Wallace and her husband, John and Mary Ledford and her husband, Jerry and by brothers, Nelson Upton and his wife, Norma and Joe Upton and his wife, Mavis.
Funeral services for Kenneth Dale Upton will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 4, 2010 at Lescher-Millsap Funeral Home Chapel, in Muskogee with Chaplain Forrest Kirk officiating. Burial will be in Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
[S5] Find A Grave, → Memorial ID 60947290.
1933 - 2010 (77 years)
. Leslie Ann UPTON, b. 29 Jan 1959 (Age 65 years)
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