KENNETH MAC RODEN
1935-2018
Kenneth Mac Roden passed away on March 18, 2018. Ken was born on July 18th, 1935 to Hugh and Ruby Roden. He was born and raised on a small homestead just outside of Bynum, Texas where he graduated from high school. He married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Jean Wright of Hillsboro, on August 30, 1956. As they started their family, Ken and Wanda moved around the country following Ken’s jobs with government contractors which included work on the Minuteman Missile program that defended our country during the Cold War. The family made stops in Fort Worth, Abilene, South Dakota, Montana, Missouri, and Seattle. With a tremendous work ethic and dedication to providing for his family, Ken developed himself from farmer, to machine operator, to electronics technician and finally to an industrial controls engineer. His career eventually brought Ken’s young family to Houston where he worked as a contractor on the Gemini and Apollo programs at the Johnson Space Center. During the latter part of his career, Ken worked on pipeline controls in the oil and gas industry. Ken was a man of the highest moral integrity. He had an unshakeable sense of responsibility to his family, constantly sacrificing himself for the ones he loved. Although a man of few words, if asked, he wouldn’t hesitate to affirm his faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ken was a devoted husband, father, son and brother. He loved spending time with his wife (who always called him Mac), children, and grandchildren (who knew him as Pop); gardening; and undertaking extensive house remodeling on his own. With a clever mind and the diverse skills he learned while growing up on a farm, Ken could build or repair anything. A man from humble beginnings, he was especially proud to have raised four children that all attained college educations.
Ken is survived by wife, Wanda; son Gary Roden and wife Lisa; daughter Lisa Peraza and husband Oscar; son Douglas Roden and wife Jennifer; daughter-inlaw Barbara Roden; twelve grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren and three great-grandchildren on the way. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Ruby Roden; his son, Gregory Roden; mother-inlaw and father-in-law, Milton and Bess Wright; and brothers Hugh Wilkes, Jimmy and Charles Roden.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held on Saturday, March 24th, 2:00 pm at Marshall & Marshall in Hillsboro, Texas (visitation at 1:00 pm). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Please designate the Wanda and Ken Roden Scholarship Fund. This fund was established by Ken’s son, Gregg, to honor his parents and assist young engineers in paying for college.