Kenyon George Eflin

"Ken" was born January 21, 1933 in New Sharon, Iowa to farmers Floyd and Mildred (Lunt) Eflin. He grew up on family farms during the depression and World War II. Ken began school at age four in a one-room schoolhouse where he impressed his teacher by drawing the schematic of his dad's home generator system. He loved to read and learn. His fascination with the way things worked - combined with responsibilities of small town farm life amidst the animals, cousins, farm machines and crop fields - set him on a course to make a positive difference in America's thirst for exploration.

Following the War, the family moved to Colorado Springs then Manitou Springs, Colorado where Ken completed high school and met Joanne Meury whom he married in 1952. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned to bases in Lubbock then Waco, Texas, where his first child, Roxanne, was born. In 1955, as Airman First Class, Ken was honorably discharged with a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. The young family moved to Los Angeles where Ken attended Northrup Aeronautical Institute, achieving a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Ken landed his first position in the aerospace industry in 1957 as a wind tunnel model designer at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis. While there, his second child, Jennifer, was born. He worked on aerodynamics with the Mercury capsule and Navy F4 Phantom jets. In 1960, the family returned to Colorado where his third child, Brian, was born and he began his long career at Martin Marietta. Programs he worked on included Titan, Skylab Space Laboratory and the Space Shuttle. In 1979, he took an esteemed position of Quality Assurance manager with the Solid Rocket Booster Decelerator program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. His work with the largest parachutes ever deployed and with the external tank recovery system resulted in awards and career trajectory. He also served as Quality Program Manager for the Hard Mobile Launcher program and the Quality and Safety Program Manager on the Mars Observer. Ken received numerous awards and citations from NASA before retiring from aerospace in 1995.

Ken's many interests were diverse. He was well versed in the sciences and arts and was a lover of nature and poetry. His hobbies included reading, photography, oil painting, leathercraft, woodworking, golfing, boating, sailing and travel. Ken was a romantic and very proud of his family, whom he deeply loved.

He is survived by his three children: daughter Roxanne Eflin and husband Michael Alvino of Buxton, Maine, daughter Jennifer Willuhn and husband Denis Willuhn of Colorado Springs, and son Brian Eflin and wife Donna Dodd-Eflin of Sandy, Utah. He also has six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren: David Matthews, wife Cassadi and great-grandchildren Madison and Maverick of Morrison, Colorado; Joel Willuhn and great-grandchildren Frances and Ryan of Colorado Springs; Joshua Willuhn of Colorado Springs; Cody Jo Eflin of Holladay, Utah; Christopher Eflin and fiancée Mendy Elfstrom and great-grandchildren Destiny, Aspen, Maria and Aliah of Tooele, Utah; and Gregory Eflin and wife Adriana and great grandchildren Rylan, Aerion, Phoenix, and Aryia of Kearns, Utah. He is also survived by three siblings: Beverly Strecker and husband Jim Strecker of Colorado Springs; Gloria Maul and husband Gerald Maul of San Antonio, Texas; and James Eflin of Muncie, Indiana. He was preceded death by his brother, Terry Eflin.

A memorial service in Colorado Springs is being planned for May. Those who wish may make memorial donations to the charity of their choice or the family suggests JDRF, a nonprofit Type 1 Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org. You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com.

The Memorial Service and Reception will be held May 20th at 10:00 a.m. at the Evergreen Funeral Chapel at 1830 East Fountain Blvd in Colorado Springs. This is the round building at the intersection of Union and Fountain Boulevards, across from Evergreen Cemetery. Ample parking surrounds the chapel location, which is fully accessible. Those who wish to briefly share a memory are invited to contact Roxanne Eflin at roxanne,[email protected].

A graveside ceremony will be held immediately following the Memorial Service and Reception for those who wish to join the immediately family.