Kenneth A. Raban, 84, died in Eagar, May 1, 2005 after a lengthy illness.
Ken was born March 1, 1921 in St. Johns to Maurice Albert and Jenny Colvin Raban. He lived in St. Johns all his life. He joined the United States Army while yet a young man and served during World War II. He was retired from Arizona Department of Transportation where he worked in road maintenance as a heavy equipment operator.
Ken filled his life with people, jobs and different things he liked. He especially enjoyed ranching and farming with his brother Ted and other family members. He was the coroner for Apache County, an inventor, a farmer. He was an active church member with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a counselor, held the position of Branch Presidency, served on a Navajo speaking mission at Sanders, and with his wife, Anna Marie served as St. Johns Stake Missionary.
Ken spent the last few weeks of his life at the Friendship House in Eagar, where the staff cared kindly for his needs, making his last days as comfortable as possible.
Ken's survivors include his wife, Anna Marie Raban; children Ken, Jr. (Joyce) Raban, Sherry Knowles, Terry "Bud" Raban, Chuck (Jackie) Raban, Pawnee Cherry, Joni Hogle, Keri (Dan) Rivera, and Brian Raban; brother Teddy Raban; sisters Virginia (Barney) Green, and Lorraine (Chuck) Battles, He has many surviving grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Maurice and Jenny Raban, sisters Katherine Duke, Marjorie Sherwood, Norene Dahm and brothers Wesley Raban, Wilford Raban and Norman Raban.
Funeral services will be held at the Downtown Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Saturday, May 7. Interment was at the Westside Cemetery.
Burnham-Jewkes Mortuary, St. Johns, handled the arrangements.