Kenneth Leslie Viles, 91, passed from the loving arms of his family to the loving arms of his Lord on March 1, 2024.
Born in Ontario, Oregon, on Sept. 30, 1932, Ken’s family moved to La Center, Washington, when he was 4 years old. In 1949, while attending La Center High School, he met the love of his life, Myrna Loy Roberts.
In 1951, Ken joined the Army and was sent to Korea. The evening before his 19th birthday, Ken was captured, became a prisoner of war for almost two years and suffered immensely.
After a joyous homecoming, Ken married his high school sweetheart and their love produced four children. They became grandparents to 15, great-grandparents to 35 and great-great-grandparents to two.
Ken retired from Boeing in 1994, and he and Myrna moved back to La Center. In between family and traveling, they immersed themselves in veterans causes and giving back to the community that they had both grown up in.
Kenneth was predeceased by his angel, Myrna, and son Dan (Virginia) Viles. He is survived by daughters Bev (Gregg) Peck and Joan (Jon) Artz and son Steven (Stacy) Viles.
The funeral took place at Evergreen Memorial Gardens on March 13.
