Kenneth R. Heid was born July 7, 1924 in Yakima, WA. He attended high school in Zillah, WA and went on to Washington State University. Ken went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 26, 2009.

Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943. Later that year he was transferred to the 89th Light Infantry Division of Patton's Third Army where he served for three years in the American, African, European, Mediteranean and Middle East Theatres of Operation. In 1946 he received an honorable discharge and several awards, including the Bronze Star.

Following his discharge from the army, Ken returned to Zillah where he met the love of his life, Mary Pauline Ratliff. They were married in 1948 and enjoyed more than sixty years together raising a family, traveling and gardening.

In 1947 Ken was hired by the General Electric Co. and worked as a Health Physicist at Hanford. He continued in that capacity for Battelle when they replaced G.E. At the time of his retirement in 1986, Ken was a Sr. Research Scientist in Health Physics. He played a major role in the design and development of both the Plutonium and Uranium Registries and had served as the initial Associate Director of both Registries.

Ken was an active member of the American Health Physics Society and served in a variety of positions, including Editor of the HPS Journal, which received world-wide distribution; Secretary; and Board Member of the HPS. In recognition of services rendered he was designated as an Honored Fellow of the Society.

Ken was also an active member of the Church of the Nazarene and served in several capacities. He especially enjoyed working with the teenagers of the church and was instrumental in organizing two Tri-City Basketball Leagues.

He was also active in his community serving on the West Richland City Council and on the Benton-Franklin Board of Health.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, George Heid, and his mother Gladys Heid, and two sisters, Alene May and Ludella Heid, all of Yakima, WA.

Survivors include two sisters, Mabel Metzer and Nancy Heid, both of Yakima, WA., and one brother, Floyd Heid of Zillah, WA. He is also survived by his wife, Mary Pauline Heid; two daughters, Judith Anne Elliott and Cheryl Lee McGee; five grandchildren, Todd, Kelly, Jessica, Ericca and Cory and two great-grandsons.

We will celebrate a life well-lived, on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Richland Church of the Nazarene on Jericho Rd. A private burial service will be held at Einans in Richland.

Ken was dearly loved by his family and will be greatly missed. We will hold him in our hearts forever.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Ken's honor, is encouraged to give to the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice, 2108 W. Entiat Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336.