Beloved Father and Husband

Kenneth S Buxton, Sr passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec 21, 2023 at his home in Wilsonville, Oregon. He was 84.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Russell (“Buck”) and Cecil of Roanoke Rapids, NC; brother, Russell; sister-in-law, JoAnn; several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his adoring wife, Barbara; daughter, Cindi; son, Ken; Son-in-law, Rick; Daughter-in-law, Kelly; 3 grandsons, Jake, Connor and Tabor; nieces Elaine, Libby, Elisha, Claire, Caroline; nephews Russell, Benjamin, Mason and Riley; Sisters-in-law Kathy and Eleanor; Brothers-in-law, Neil and Jay.

Ken grew up in NC, where his brother, cousins and friends and he were always creating new adventures, fishing, waterskiing, swimming, scouts, band (clarinet and saxophone) and creating good mischief. While home from college, Ken met and married the love of his life, Barbara, after which they moved to Georgia to start their family, as Ken worked at the Environmental Protection Agency and earned his degree in Analytical Chemistry from University of Georgia.

Despite a heart condition, Ken lived life to the fullest, traveling with brother Russell to Civil War reenactments, playing golf, bridge and poker, taking family trips, and most of all story-telling. He could have an entire room laughing and crying from the beautiful way he spun his tales from his very special heart.

Ken’s zest for both work and play continued when he, Barbara, Cindi and Ken Jr moved to Cape Cod, MA, where Ken thrived as an Environmental Chemist, and served on his town’s Board of Health. Always up for a challenge, he bought a broken, old wooden boat and spent months fixing it up, while the neighborhood kids placed bets on whether or not he could get it working. Of course, he succeeded, as he was as stubborn as he was brilliant. Captain Ken’s family, friends and neighbors then enjoyed many joyful hours on the waters around Cape Cod, Cuttyhunk Is, and Martha’s Vineyard.

In the 1980’s, Ken and family moved to Dutchess County, NY, where he worked at Union Carbide solving chemistry problems and making some of the best friends of his and Barbara’s lives. A congenital heart condition pushed Ken onto disability at age 49. Ken and Barbara followed her job to Marietta GA, where they made more amazing friends and were active members of the St James Episcopal Church for many years, with Ken dedicating many hours to the Pathfinders, focusing on addressing and healing racism. 

When Ken's congenital heart disease had him on the edge of death at age 62, a medical miracle came through in the form of a Heart Transplant which was performed at St Joseph's Hospital, part of Emory in Atlanta.  The recovery was difficult, but Ken thrived for more than 22 years after his transplant!   He was active for several years in the transplant patients' support group at St Joseph's, leading the group for more than one year, offering encouragement and peer counseling to many potential and new transplant patients in the Atlanta area.  

He was incredibly proud of both his adult children and kept photos and memorabilia, including a copy of the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded to his son Ken Jr, for bravery in a harrowing Alaskan Coast Guard rescue mission.  The last years of Ken’s life were spent with Barbara in Oregon, near Cindi and Rick.  Ken also forged wonderful new friendships at The Springs assisted living in Oregon, where he enjoyed playing poker and going on field trips, and sharing poignant, and hysterical stories to anyone who was lucky enough to listen.  

Ken will be deeply missed and forever loved and cherished. A Celebration of Life will be announced in the near future.  

Ken and his family wish to thank the doctors and staff at Portland's Providence Heart Failure and Transplant team,  Providence St Vincent Hospital, and the Providence Wilsonville Medical Group who cared for Ken so well in his last years of life.  Also many thanks to his doctors and care staff at Emory St Joseph in Atlanta for performing the transplant so brilliantly.  We are also very grateful to the wonderful staff and residents at The Springs at Wilsonville Assisted Living for the amazing care and friendship given to Ken in his last years of life.  

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