Sandy resident Ken Ottwell died Friday, July 10, 2009. He was 70.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Ken was born May13, 1939 in Griggsville, Illinois to Albert and Betty (Rumple) Ottwell.
He was raised in Griggsville and graduated from Griggsville High School in 1957.
He went on to Bailey Technical School to train in diesel mechanics. Ken was active in the heavy equipment industry for 51 years and retired from Modern Machinery in 2007. He had served as an advisor to the Diesel Technology program of Portland Community College for many years and decided to continue his life-long contributions to the industry by becoming a PCC instructor in September of 2007.
On May 30, 1959, he married Mary Wainman and they made their home in Quincy, Illinois. They had 3 children, Natalia, Eric and Joye. In 1966, the family moved to Ottawa, Illinois. After a family visit to Oregon, Ken decided to move the family to Portland in 1974 to enjoy the beauty of the state. The family made their home in Boring for 34 years. In December 2008, Ken and Mary settled into their home in Sandy.
Ken’s interests included his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and home improvement projects.
Survivors include his wife Mary; mother, Betty Hannant of Pittsfield, Illinois; brother, Bob Ottwell of Beardstown, Illinois; daughters, Natalia Sedgwick of Sandy, and Joye Ottwell of Austin, Texas; son Eric Ottwell of Sandy; 2 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Albert.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society. A scholarship fund will be established in Ken’s name at Portland Community College for students enrolled in the Diesel Technology Program.