Kenneth Ross "Ken" Harper's Obituary
Kenneth Ross "Ken" Harper
In May, Ken fell and damaged his spinal cord rendering him immobile. Peace and freedom from pain came on, December 20, 2016.
On December 13, 1938, Kenneth Ross Harper was born in Colville, Washington to Ross and Florence Ruth (Rieper) Harper. In 1947, at age 8, he and his family moved to the South Tacoma State Game Farm, on Phillips Road. He lived there until graduation from Clover Park High School in 1957. In 1959, he married Glenda Mae Tone, Ken's sister Janet's best friend.
From high school he worked for ten years at Andy's Steel Fabricating on Steilacoom Blvd. as a welder, a skill he learned while in school. He had the opportunity to become a plumber and started work at Lakewood Plumbing, eventually become the owner in June 1991 until his retirement in 2015.
Ken served in the Washington National Guard, was a board member of the Tillicum Community Center, a past president of the Tacoma Poggie Fishing Club and was awarded Sportsman of the Year by the Pierce County Sportsmen's where he was a board member for over twenty years. He was a skilled and prolific hunter and fisherman and could tell the best stories of his conquests, in every detail.
Ken is survived by Glenda his wife of 57 years; Children Rebecca Lynn Tawyea, Kenneth Russell (Deborah) and Leslie Susan Hoffman; Sister Janet Ruth Harper; Four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; Numerous cousins, other relatives and many fiends and business associates.
A celebration of Ken's life, Hosted by Janet Harper, will be on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. The Celebration of Life Center, Aspen Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park, with reception to follow in the Willow Room.
In lieu of flowers please give to the Tillicum Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave. SW Lakewood, WA 98498
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