Kenneth Owen McMaster

Kenneth Owen McMaster passed away Thursday February 18, 2010 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was born May 7, 1923 in Knox County, Illinois to Pearl Dragoo and Charles H. McMaster. After graduation from Yates City, Illinois High School he attended college at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He left college to join the Marines. While stationed in Texas he attended Texas A&M. He served in the South Pacific during World War II. After discharge, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois graduating Tomb & Key in 1949. On February 6, 1949 he was united in marriage to Delonace (Sally) Metcalf. In 1950 they moved to Oelwein, Iowa where he opened his optometry practice. He was a member and elder of Christ United Presbyterian Church. He was active in the community serving on the school and hospital boards, he was president of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, he served on the State Board of Optometry Examiners. After 40 years of practice in Oelwein, he and Sally retired to Grand Marais, MN where he could spend his time doing his favorite sport-“fishing”. Due to health problems he and Sally moved to Greenwood, Arkansas in 2006, to be near family.

He is survived by his wife, Sally of Greenwood; daughters, Deb Card of Greenwood, Susan Hoven of Waterloo, IA, Jill Dursky of Pella, IA, Peggy Owens of Holland, MI; one son, David of Tamora, IL; eight grandchildren; one great grandchild; four sons-in-law, a niece Karen Swanson of Trivoli, IL, Saki and BC.

Funeral service will be 10 am Saturday, February 20, 2010 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood. The family will visit with friends at the funeral home Friday from 6 – 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Central Presbyterian Church or the Sebastian County Humane Society.