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From everyone at Sierra News Online, our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Kenneth Upcraft.

Celebration of Life for Kenneth Bruce Upcraft, Sr.

Kenneth Bruce Upcraft, Sr. passed away on October 19, 2019, after a brief illness. He was born on July 13, 1928, in Minetto, NY, to Kenneth and Mary Ellen (Stevens) Upcraft. He grew up in Hannibal, NY, and graduated from Hannibal High School in 1945.

Kenneth joined the U.S. Army on October 2, 1946, serving honorably with the 8th Army and then the 155th Station Hospital, Yokohama, Japan, as a Tech 4 (T-4) Projectionist Motion Picture Specialist until his discharge on March 18, 1948. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal Japan.

Kenneth married Jeannette M. Williams in the summer of 1948 and entered Oswego State College that fall, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts Education in 1951. He taught in several cities in New York before moving his family to California in 1958 to teach. Kenneth taught Industrial Arts until 1975 when he earned his Masters of Library Science Degree.

Kenneth enjoyed working outdoors and was a model airplane enthusiast and ham radio operator. He also loved to travel and take his family on camping trips to national parks and other outdoor wonders. Kenneth especially enjoyed spending time at his cabin in the High Sierra Meadows near Kings Canyon National Park. He served on the board of the High Sierra Meadows Road Association.

Upon his retirement in 1988, Kenneth moved to North Fork and remained there until 2007, when he then moved to Fresno with his second wife Pauline Stock-Sanderson. After her death in 2017, he moved to Riverview Terrace in Roseburg, Oregon, on July 4, 2017, to be close to his daughter. He resided there until his passing, with his companion Judy by his side.

Kenneth was predeceased by his first wife, Jeannette M. (Williams) of 44 years in 1993; his second wife, Pauline (Stock-Sanderson) of 23 years in 2017; and his son, Dr. Gerald W. Upcraft in 2018. He is survived by his sister Maryann Lennon, son, Kenneth B. Upcraft, Jr., daughter, Deborah E. Walker (Robert), and daughter-in-law, Karen Upcraft (Gerald.) He also leaves behind three grandchildren, Megan N. (Upcraft) Richmond (Andy), Lindsay D. (Upcraft) Watts (Creed), and Frey Upcraft; four great-grandchildren, Alex Richmond, Ryan Richmond, Noah Richmond, and Owen Watts; and his extended family children, David Sanderson (Denise), and Wendelin (Sanderson) LaFollette (Jere) and grandchildren Robert (Shaai) LaFollette and Teal Sanderson.

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