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Image of SWC Arthur Kenneth

SWC Arthur Kenneth “Ken” Allred

CPO/SWC

Date of birth 08/28/1927
Date of passing 01/24/2024

Arthur Kenneth “Ken” Allred passed peacefully from this life on January 24, 2024, at his home in West Valley City, Utah. He was born August 28, 1927 to Leslie Winford Allred and Una Lucinda Jeffs in Mohrland, Emery County, Utah.

When he was about eight years old, he moved with his family to the neighboring mining town of Hiawatha, where he spent the rest of his childhood. There, in Hiawatha, he lived in close proximity to most of his extended family. He was always very kind and helpful to his parents, sister, grandparents, and anyone else who was in need. These became qualities that he would exhibit throughout his life.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing in the beautiful areas of Carbon and Emery counties with his dad and uncles, and made many cherished memories of those experiences. He attended Carbon High School in Price, Utah where he played basketball and participated in ballroom dance. He and his numerous friends had many adventures together.

He loved growing up in Carbon County. Upon his graduation from high school in 1945, Ken joined the United States Navy at age seventeen. After weeks of Basic Training and Radar Detection School, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, changing his two year orders. The war ended in September 1945 and he was assigned to the U.S.S. Bushnell, a submarine tender, that supplied and helped maintain the Navy’s submarines. He was stationed in Guam, and later at Pearl Harbor. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Hiawatha where he worked for King Coal Mining Company.

In November of 1950, he married his sweetheart, Carma Rae Simmons, and together they had two children, Kathryn Diane and Kenneth James. They were later sealed in The Salt Lake Temple.

In 1954, Ken and his family moved to Granger, Utah, now called West Valley City, where he worked for Vitro Uranium Company. Seven years later he began working for Hercules Incorporated as a welder, until his retirement.

In 1961, he joined the United States Navy SeaBee Reserves and retired in 1987 after 25 years with the rank of Chief.

Ken and Carma enjoyed their lives in Granger, participating in many activities, including square dancing and ballroom dancing.

He always grew a large vegetable garden and shared his bounty with many. He especially loved riding his beloved horses, Lady, Stormy, and Midnight in the open fields around the old Decker Lake with Jim and Kathy or on hunting trips in the mountains. He had a special bond with his horses and treated them with tender care.

After his retirement, he and Carma spent many years wintering in Arizona in their RV where they made many new and lasting friends. Ken was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served his ward members and neighbors in any way he could and spent countless hours in their behalf. He lived in the same home for 70 years!

Upon Carma’s passing in 2010, he remained active by joining a senior group where he continued to make new friends and socialized regularly. He loved to golf and go dancing and had an amazing memory!

In 2016 and 2017, he was able to cross two big things off his Bucket List when he took an Alaskan Cruise and a safari in Africa, respectively. He loved every minute of those two amazing trips! He also took his kids and grandkids on a Caribbean Cruise, a trip that none of them will ever forget.

Ken was so accepting and loved everyone without exception. He was genuinely interested in people and their lives and was always generous with his time, talents, and means. His greatest joy was his family. He loved spending time with them, eating dinner, playing cards, or just chatting. We always felt so loved by him!

Ken is survived by his son, Jim Allred (Becky), and his grandchildren, Amy Nelson (Ryan), Anika Pendleton (Carson), Ashlen Van Weezep (Jake), and Andrew Allred.

He is preceded in death by his wife Carma, daughter, Kathy, his parents, and his sister, Marilyn Hilton.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 2, 2024 at the Hillsdale Park Ward, 3274 South Hillsdale Drive, West Valley City, Utah at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing one hour prior from 10:00-10:45 a.m.

Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery,4th Avenue & “N” Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.

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