Kenneth James Salter

Ken Salter was a great storyteller. Always delighted to be the center of attention, he would have everyone roaring with laughter till their stomachs hurt. The stories he told spanned 87 years and 3 continents. Born the youngest of 4 sons to Thomas Salter and May Annie Vivian on August 12th, 1932, in Burnt Oak, just north of London, England; his childhood included ignoring the air raid sirens to play in the park during the Battle of Britain. Somewhere along the way he met Teddy Martin, who lived a few streets away. Teddy had a younger sister named Joan. Ken & Joan married in 1953. In 1963, with baby # 7 on the way, they packed up 8 suitcases and immigrated to Australia. The Australian adventures included an 1800-mile drive through the Australian desert and across Australia's widest river, the Murray River; with 6 children aged a few months to 9 years - much of which Ken documented with an 8mm cine camera. After 2 years it was off to Disneyland. Yeah! At least as far as the kids were concerned. Ken & Joan packed up the suitcases again and crossed the Pacific to Southern California, where their youngest son was born. The kids grew up, as kids do, and Ken documented almost everything with his movie camera.

Ken was a Sprinkler Fitter by profession and provided well for his family. A resident of Rogue River, Oregon for more than 30 years he has been immortalized on the Rogue River post office mural. His later years were filled with golf, horse racing, good friends and good dogs. Ken has now been reunited with his beloved Joan- his son’s Jim and Sam, and baby daughter, Faith. He is survived by 5 daughters: Susan Rodriguez, Laura Betts, Christine Laughman, Diane McCammon and Joanne Alvarez as well as 17 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.