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Kenneth J. Wofford
May 17, 1931 - March 22, 2017
Kenneth J. Wofford born May 17, 1931 in Peoria, Arizona, the 4th of 7 children to James J. Wofford and Alta B. Caudle Wofford.
He was the oldest of 3 boys with 3 older sisters and 1 sister that died in infancy.
Kenneth graduated from Stanford High school in Stanford, Texas. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force
where he served as an aircraft mechanic. During his tour of duty he was able to travel to Europe and Africa.
After he finished his enlistment he returned to Blythe, California to work with his 2 brothers and father in the trucking
business hauling melons, cotton and hay throughout the Imperial Valley.
Kenneth married and had 3 children; 2 daughters and a son. As a young family they relocated in 1968 to Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers at Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam #15. He was hired as the lock repairman, decades later he retired as the Lockmaster. During his years there he led thousands of children and adults on tours through the Lock and dam facility. Some coming from other countries on vacation stopping by to see the system.
After retirement, he lived on a large property north of Sallisaw where he enjoyed raising and racing horses. Kenneth enjoyed his horses, brush hogging, and frequenting the various coffee shops of Sallisaw where he delighted in teasing the waitresses. After almost 50 years as a resident of Sallisaw, there weren’t many people he didn’t recognize.
Kenneth loved being a grandpa to his grandchildren and when they grew up and had families of their own, he loved those great-grandchildren too. He would tease them all, then open his wallet and give them a dollar to put in their pocket.
Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. He is survived by 2 sisters; Opal Cheatwood and Rotha Phillips
both of California, and 2 brothers, Kirby Wofford and wife, and Douglas Wofford both of Arizona.
He is also survived by three children:
Rosie Wofford Nelson and husband Charles, of North Richland Hills, Tx, her children, Mike Crowson and Shawna Crowson Donaghue in Arkansas.
Alta Wofford Matthews and husband EC (Sam) of Sallisaw, their two sons, Richard Matthews and John Matthews of Sallisaw.
James Wofford and wife, Shannon of Houston, Tx and their children, Jamie Perdue, Shane Wofford, Whitney Day,
and Jana Morris of Oklahoma, Chanda Wofford of Texas, and Stephen Wofford of California.
Kenneth also has 23 great-grandchildren. Missing him too, are his two fur babies, Foster and Hobo.
Kenneth fought advanced lung cancer for a year, but before his fight was over he was led to the Lord by one of his sweet granddaughters. He closed his eyes here on earth and opened them in heaven. He passed this life on March 22, 2017 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
Funeral service is Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 1 pm at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
Burial will be at Fleetwood Cemetery under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.
Viewing will be Thursday from 4 - 8 pm and Friday from 10 am - 8 pm at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.
The family will greet Friday from 6 - 8 pm at the funeral home.
Active Pallbearers are John Matthews, Richard Matthews, Shane Wofford, Levi Pettigrew, Steven Wofford, and Mike Crowson
Honorary Pallbearers are Dale Crowson, Norman Lancaster, Josh Call, Greg Perdue, and Lelan Smith
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