My first obituary with my wife as the editor..
He was born July 9th, 1922 in Watsonville, CA, died February 16th, 2011 at 88 years old.
Kenneth joined the Marines on September 10th 1942, and following bootcamp, was assigned to 5851 Seacoast Artillery Battery on Eastern Island where he served in the fire Control section for 18 months. Upon returning to the states, he married his fiancée and high school sweetheart, Nita Pavan. In 1945, he was honorably discharged and moved back to San Jose where he worked at J.C. Penneys. In 1950, the Korean War started and he joined the Marine Reserves, 12th Amtrac Battalion. Just four days later, his unit was activated and he went to Camp Pendleton for training. Kenneth was later shipped off to Kobe, Japan then Inchon, Korea.
He returned to the states in 1951, was stationed in Alameda, CA and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. The following year, he attended Recruiter School and served in San Francisco as a recruiter and Public Information Officer until 1955, when he was promoted to Tech Sergeant. Following recruiting duty, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was assigned to the Camp Pendleton Scout newspaper where he eventually became the Editor. Following the assignment at Camp Pendleton, he was stationed in Okinawa in 1958 where he worked for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service until 1960. From 1960-1961 Kenneth was the Press Chief at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, and from the years 1961-1964 he was Public Relations NCO for the 14th Marine Corps District in Hawaii. During the next two years, 1964-1966, he was the Information Chief at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Finally, from 1966-1967, Kenneth was the Information Chief at Camp Pendleton and from 1967 to 1968 he was the Manager, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Press center, Danang where he supervised a restaurant, two cocktail lounges and a 58 bed hotel. When he eventually returned stateside to his family in San Jose he had retired as a Master Sergeant.
His next career at the Keystone Coffee Company would last from 1968 to 1983. After 5 years of retirement he began his third career at Penney’s and retired once again.
Kenneth never met someone who didn’t like him and he was a natural storyteller.
During his time as a Marine, he raised a son, Jan and daughter Deborah. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nita Maddux, son Jan Maddux, daughter Deborah Diggins, grandson Max Maddux, granddaughters Heather Diggins Dustman and Liesa Maddux Manson and great grandchildren David and Maria Manson. He also leaves behind his brothers Dick and Bill Maddux.
A viewing will be held on Friday, February 25th from 5pm to 9pm at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Avenue, San Jose.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 26th at 2pm in the Rose Chapel, also at Oak Hill.
