Ken Waldon was a walking history book.
The well-known Vernon volunteer, along with his wife Jan, founded the Friends of Fintry Provincial Park Society, was on the boards of the North Okanagan Naturalists, North Okanagan Historical Society, Okanagan Historical Society, Mackie Lake House Foundation, All Saints Anglican Church, North Okanagan-Shuswap Crime Stoppers Society, Prostate Cancer Support Group, North Okanagan Community Concerts Association and Emergency Support Services.
Waldon died Feb. 8, three weeks shy of his 87th birthday, following a brief illness.
“Anything that happened before he knew about it or he knew where to look,” said Lyle Duffield, who served for years with Waldon on the Crime Stoppers board and Citizens on Patrol. “He was always calm. He never got upset. He was such a very nice man.”
With Jan, Waldon was awarded the 2008 Central Okanagan Heritage Society Award, a life membership in Friends of Fintry and in 2011 he and Jan were named Vernon’s Good Citizens of the Year. They received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteerism in 2019.
“The recognitions given to both Jan and Ken were well earned and for us here in Ottawa, who had first seen their joie de vivre at the Universiade Games in Edmonton in 1983, we were thrilled when both were recognized and presented with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteerism,” said friend Garth Hampson in an online tribute.
“They were so deserving of that recognition. We are grateful for his friendship and send our sympathies to Jan and Ken’s family.”
A native of Brandon, Man., Waldon finished high school in Portage la Prairie, then attended the University of Manitoba for his degree in agriculture with a major in dairy science. It was there he met Jan, a Vernonite. The Waldons would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this year.
Jan followed Ken across the country as he worked in nine of 10 provinces for Agriculture Canada. In 1982, Waldon transferred to Alberta Agriculture as head of the dairy processing branch until his retirement 10 years later.
Ken and Jan then moved to their retreat near Vernon.
Waldon enjoyed badminton, golf, sailing, cross-country skiing, competitive shooting, woodworking, photography, hiking and backcountry trail rides, as well as growing orchids.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting gatherings, Waldon’s funeral service which will be held at All Saints Anglican Church on Saturday, March 6, 2 p.m. will be private. However, the service will be made available to watch live online at the following link: https://youtu.be/gEH6KyQZ9qM
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