Kenneth Girard High's Obituary
Kenneth Girard High passed away peacefully in his home on July 16, 2023. He was born in 1936 to Nina Juanita Herglund High (later Patterson) and William Lloyd High in Astoria, Oregon. He spent all of his growing years in that area, where life there centered on the longshoring, fishing, and timber industries. He grew up with two older brothers, William (Bill) and Donald (Donny) and later a sister, Judith. He married his beloved Arlynn Thaxton in 1960 in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she accompanied him wherever his Air Force career took them. He loved Arlynn deeply and with a strong loyalty. He frequently talked about how he could not imagine a more perfect wife than she was. He believed that his children and grandchildren could do anything they put their minds to and, this extended to the partners their children chose and the grandchildren who joined the family by way of those relationships. He was preceded in death by his wife Arlynn, his parents, brothers, William (Bill), Donald (Donny) and Daniel (Dan),sisters Judith Needham and Barbara Atkins Dodge, and grandson Peyton Chambers. Kenneth is survived by sisters Samantha Peck and Julie Thomson, and his six children: Cynthia (Scott) Schroeder, Laurel (Dave) George, Thayne (Jennifer) High, Kiersten (Jeffery C.), Mitchel High, and Allison Chambers along with many beloved grandchildren.
Ken and Arlynn taught their children to work hard, love strong, and to deeply value family relationships. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, first as aircraft support, and then for the last nine years in Management Engineering, also earning a bachelor’s degree in night school while also serving in multiple callings in each place where he was stationed. He retired in 1978, moving with his family to Orem, Utah where he lived until the end of his life.
After the Air Force, he worked for about a year and a half as a real estate agent, ran the materials room at the BYU Comprehensive Clinic for 15 years, and became a team driver doing over-the-road trucking until 2003. Kenneth’s faith in Jesus Christ led him to serve in His church with great energy and devotion, including a mission, with Arlynn as companion, to Foley, AL in the FL Tallahassee Mission from 2003-2004. They loved the people they served and treasured the friendships they gained there during that brief time. After their mission, he later worked for Doug Smith Auto delivering parts until age 80 when he retired to spend more time at home with his Arlynn, caring for her as her health had declined.
Ken had a strong orientation toward looking for attributes in others to admire, and he spoke highly of them. He enjoyed listening to music and taking in the beauty of the flowers in the gardens his wife and daughters designed and kept lovely over the years. He lived with optimism and gratitude for all the blessings he recognized in his life, expressing that gratitude frequently and sincerely. He will be greatly missed; and his loving heart and goodness are with us still.
Services will be held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 with a viewing at 9:30 - 10:30 am followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am at 225 East 200 North, Orem, Utah. For those who missed the service or would like to rewatch it, the family has made the service available here: https://youtu.be/nk7PAeDfrVI
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