Kenneth E. Condray

Kenneth Everett Condray, age 86 of Temple, died Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at a local care center. The family will receive visitors from 6-8:00 PM Friday, January 7, 2011 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday January 8, 2011 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Interment will take place at 2:00 PM, Monday, January 10, 2011 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery In Killeen. Kenneth was born in Wills Point, Texas on September 2, 1924 to the late Jewell Emmett Condray and Ethel Beckum Condray. Kenneth was a 10th generation Texan. His family migrated from the Carolinas to Texas in 1823 and received a Texas land grant from the Mexican government and fought in the war for Texas Independence. His ancestors also fought In the Revolutionary War. It was no surprise that after graduating from high school, Kenneth joined the Navy during World War II. He served in the C-Bees in the Pacific. His last duty was on the island of Tinian, where he built four runways, Able, Baker, Charlie and Dog which were top secret and where he did guard duty on the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay was one of the planes that helped end the war in the Pacific and WWII. Once out of military, Kenneth relocated to Lubbock, Texas where he married his sweetheart, Norma Dean Underwood. They celebrated their 65th anniversary on December 17, 2010. Kenneth attended Texas Tech University, obtaining a bachelors degree in accounting. Upon graduation, Kenneth worked for A & C Pump Co. in Lubbock as an accountant. He later worked in sales for Peerless Pump Co. in Amarillo Texas, and as General manager in Plainview, Texas, where he worked until he retired. After retiring in 1984, Kenneth moved to Holland, Texas where he had a pecan farm, which yielded crops appreciated by many friends and neighbors. Kenneth and Norma attended Holland Methodist Church and he was a member of the Temple Masonic Lodge. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Glenn Condray of Mexia, and 7 siblings. Kenneth is survived by his loving wife, Norma Dean Condray of Temple; two daughters, Gerry Darlene Bates of Westfield, MA. and Ann Runnels and husband Dale of Temple TX; nine grandchildren, Brandy Meyer of Hutto Tx, Avril Plunkett of the Peoples Republic of China, Crystal Siedel of Chicopee, MA, Shelby Condray of Cambridge MA, Jason Condray of Denver CO, Randy Runnels of North Richland Hills TX, Roger Runnels of Austin TX, Renee King of Joshua TX, and Raymond Runnels of Cleburne Tx. Kenneth had 19 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews that he loved. Daddy & Papa, we will miss your laughter, your sense of humor and the wonderful hugs. We know you are in Heaven and at your Condray family reunion. Our tears are for our loss, not yours. Memorials may be made in Kenneth's name to the Alzheimer's Association, VistaCare Hospice or Scott & White Alzheimers Research.