HEBRON, Kenneth L. (1928-2019)

HEBRON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/5/2020 at 13:54:52

Kenneth LeRoy Hebron
(May 7, 1928 - December 10, 2019)

Dr. Kenneth Leroy Hebron was the last of 6 children born in Alpena, South Dakota to parents Archie & Mabel Hebron. His education started in a South Dakota country schoolhouse. He went to schools in Virgil, S.D. & Cherokee, Ia. Ken graduated from the Pierson, Iowa High School in 1946. He did his undergraduate at Pacific University in Oregon & University of Iowa in Iowa City. Ken graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis Tennessee in 1952. He worked his way through college as a Fuller Brush Salesman. Ken met his beloved wife Louise Marascalco from Grenada, Mississippi at an afternoon tea dance in Memphis. He attended Naval Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in 1953. Upon graduation his first orders were on the Commander of the 7th Fleet Staff during the Korean War, high lined aboard the USS Battleship New Jersey BB-62; transferring later to USS Battleship Wisconsin BB-64. He encoded & decoded crypto messages & was top secret messenger for COM7FLT. As a newly commissioned Naval Ensign Communications Watch Officer he had the duty of taking the decoded message to COM7FLT Vice Admiral Jocko Clark telling him the Korean War was over. A day later the entire crew of the battleship "manned the rail" as President Sigman Rhee of South Korea came aboard to consult with COM7FLT. He transferred 2 more times with COM7FLT to Cruiser Rochester, then to Cruiser St Paul. He was honorably discharged as appointed Lieutenant on the Attack Aircraft Carrier USS Oriskany, CVA-34, 1955. He earned Honors for Japan Service, China Service and received United States & Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. Ken married Louise November 23, 1955 in Forest Grove, Oregon on a 7 day leave from the Aircraft Carrier Oriskany. Ken practiced optometry in Indianola, Iowa for 35 years & was the first optometrist in Indianola to fit contact lenses in 1956. He was a 50+ year member of the Iowa Optometric Association & a 64 year lifetime member of the American Optometric Association since 1955. Ken was a 54 year member of the Indianola Lions Club & USS Wisconsin Association member. In October 1988 Ken & Louise attended the first ever reunion of the USS Wisconsin in Biloxi, Mississippi when the "last battleship" was recommissioned by President Reagan, fitted with missiles & guns that were used in Iraq. Ken had also been a member of the St Paul's Methodist Church & enjoyed singing in the choir. Here he enjoyed his times under the private studies of Roy Whitehead. He took his daughter & son to Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Spain & Portugal when they were children with his wife. He took Louise to Sicily where her parents were born. Ken enjoyed photography, raising farm animals & poultry, his Ford tractors & baler used in hay making, & watching the birds & squirrels. He established a bird sanctuary on his acreage. He is survived by his wife Louise, daughter Sherry (Jeff) Westercamp of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, son Kalor (Josie) Hebron of Derby, Kansas, 7 grandchildren & 3 great grandchildren, and a sister Lois Brewer of Forest Grove, Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his dear parents & siblings; Foster, Schuyler Wesley, Clare Olson, a young brother Albert & a great- grandchild Kayla Kristina.
Ken stayed at home under the dedicated heart centered care of his wife for 12 years as Parkinson's progressed. He spent the final 6 months enjoying Louise's daily multiple visits, great staff and wonderful St Croix Hospice team at Good Samaritan Nursing Home. His wife and daughter were privileged to spend a last week together with Ken before he beautifully & peacefully left those he loved.
This memorial is provided by Peterson Funeral Home, 415 School Street, Carlisle, Iowa,
http://www.petersonfuneralservice.com