Kenneth Gordon Densley passed from this life on Friday, September 7, 2018 surrounded by family in Lincoln, CA. He is the son of the late Gordon Zachariah Densley and Emma Marie Goode, born January 7, 1929 at the home of his grandmother, Elizabeth Morris Butterfield, in Riverton, Utah where he grew up. At birth, he weighed 10 ½ lbs.
on the kitchen scale. The second of five children, Ken was a servant leader and teacher who loved to help others. He graduated from Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah on May 23, 1947.
Throughout his life, he used his many and varied talents to bless family, church, and community. He had fun, loved life and both appreciated and understood all the accomplishments that occurred in science and technology during his lifetime. Ken knew his future wife, Barbara N. Maynard, his entire life and claimed to know he would marry her when they were just in the 2nd grade.
She thought of him as the boy who wore a white shirt and tie along with short pants everyday to school instead of the usual overalls the other boys wore. Later his mother became Barbara’s Beehive instructor and held activities in her home where Barbara got to know Ken. They dated for some time when he, being a foot taller, picked her up off of her feet and kissed her.
That is when she too became sold on the idea of marriage. They were the first Barbie and Ken. On August 19, 1949 the two wed in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and just celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.
They have three devoted children. Shortly after they were married, Barbara’s father died and they began their life of service by moving in with her mother, Clara Rozilla Maynard. Early in their marriage, Ken was called to be Scout Master.
His goal was to give every young man the opportunity to do the complete scouting program well. He succeeded with 23 earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Additionally, 21 served missions for the church.
He remained active in scouting; the Golden Empire Council honored him with the Silver Bear award in 1992 and the Silver Beaver award in 1993. He continued to help his grandsons and great-grandson earn the rank of Eagle, and he was awarded the Mentor Pin four times. Ken loved learning and graduated from Utah State University in 1951 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Arts and Biology.
Shortly after, he reported to Hill Air Force Base where he got to have a new experience that he soon fell in love with-flying. Following his time in the Air Force, he became a dedicated biology teacher at Bingham High School. Often students would stop by the house for homework help after dinner.
He went on to earn his M.S. degree in 1961 from the University of Utah in Science Education and Education Administration. He attended The University of California at Berkley and earned a certificate in Radiation Biology. He graduated from BYU, where he both attended and taught, in 1964 with an Industrial Education degree; lastly, he earned his Ph.D. in 1967 at Utah State University in Manufactured Arts and Administration.
Shortly after graduation, he accepted a job as a research consultant for the State Department of Education in Sacramento, CA. In 1980, Ken started a successful family business called D&G Computers. His love of teaching lasted his entire life; he continued as a guest speaker sharing what he had learned during his life in his granddaughter’s history classroom at John Adams Academy.
Spending time with family brought Ken joy, from putting puzzles together to making shaved ice. Additionally, Ken and Barbara loved being missionaries for their church. Though leaving family was hard, they served in the Australia Brisbane Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from February 1990 to August 1991.
Upon returning home they served several more missions as temple workers in The Oakland Temple, a Welfare Services Mission as Ham Radio Operators, as Family and Church Historical Services providers, as Home Food Storage instructors, and as facilities managers for the missionaries. Ken also served as the Bishop for the singles ward in Carmichael, CA. Both have faithfully devoted their lives to service.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Maynard Densley and their three children and spouses: Rosemarie and Kelly Groth, Kenneth Lamar and Melody Densley, and Deidra and Doug Milligan; 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; brothers Vaughn Lee Densley of Huntington Beach, CA and Roger Densley of Elma, WA. Services will be held on Wednesday, September 19th at 11:30 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (252 O Street Lincoln, CA). Private interment will be held at the VA Cemetery in Dixon, CA at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, September 19th.
Tuesday, September 18th there will be a public viewing from 4:00-5:00 PM at PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (6335 Sunrise Blvd. , Citrus Heights, CA, 916-725-2109).
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