Kenneth Lee Batchelder, 84, died on May 1, 2008. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday May 7, at the Church of the Nazarene in John Day, with Pastor Daniel Wiese officiating. Interment will be at the Canyon City Cemetery.

He was born in Lawrence, Kan. on August 30, 1923 to Paul Azul Batchelder of Mankado, Kan. and Ruth Mercer of Guthrie, Okla. He lived in Oklahoma until he joined the United States Air Force in 1941.

He was a proud veteran of World War II and often spoke of his years in the military. He served as an airplane mechanic and as a tail gunner on a B17 bomber plane. His plane and crew were sent on a bombing mission, but Kenneth was grounded at the very last moment for medical reasons. His plane was shot down and the crew perished, but Kenneth survived and went on to live a full life until his death at age 84.

In 1943, he met Laura McBee and they were married three months later. They were blessed with three daughters between 1943 and 1957.

He began working for the Oregon State Department of Transportation as a surveyor in 1956. He then worked his way up to senior engineer. In his thirty years of employment with ODOT, he helped evacuate people on the Oregon coast when major storms took out roads. He was also involved in the design of freeways, cloverleaves, the Astoria bridge, the Freemont Bridge in Portland and many major highways throughout the state of Oregon.

After his retirement in 1986, he and his wife purchased 60 acres of land bordering the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Area in Mt. Vernon. He built a three-story log home, mostly with his own hands and ingenuity, and with the assistance of many helpful friends.

He loved classical music, gospel music, and traditional hymns. He also loved nature, camping, hiking, and woodworking.

He was a deeply spiritual person who believed the Holy Bible to be the infallible word of God. He believed in the Gospel and the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ and was not ashamed of his faith. His life was testimony to many.

Mr. Batchelder was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Laura Eunice McBee Batchelder, in May 2006, and their first born daughter, Angela Dawn Batchelder Hill, in April 1974.

He is survived by his daughters, Karen Warden of Portland and Christina Ruth Beggs of Post Falls, Idaho; one nephew; twelve grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.