Kenneth Jerome Allwine Sr., age 90, of Richland, Washington passed away with family on February 17, 2016 at Kadlec Medical Center. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on June 28, 1925 to Genevieve and Julian Allwine.  He was the older of two siblings.

After graduating from Omaha’s Central High School, Ken joined the Coast Guard in 1943.  In 1945 during one of his shore stops in Seattle, he attended a dance at the University of Washington where he met his wife of 58 years Betty Mae Alvord and within a few short weeks they were married.  Ken started his career in criminal justice as a deputy sheriff for the Lewis County, Washington sheriff’s office. He then went on to serve as a probation officer for the Lewis County juvenile and district court probation offices, and as director of the Lewis County Emergency Services.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Central Washington University in 1976 and decided to pursue his passion for teaching and received his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Washington State University in 1978. Ken spent the next 14 years as an Associate Professor in Criminal Justice at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho and was voted by the student body as “Outstanding Instructor of the Year.”

Ken and Betty Mae were dedicated to raising their nine children, four girls and five boys. The first seven were raised in Centralia, Washington and the last two were raised primarily in Pullman and Clarkston, Washington. Ken was very active in supporting the sporting activities of his youngest two children. He also served for several years as an umpire in slow-pitch leagues in the Clarkston-Lewiston area. After retirement, Ken and Betty Mae trekked in their motor home, “Mo-Home,” visiting kids and grandkids. They were always willing to help at their various stops with family projects.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife Betty Mae Allwine, daughters Suzanne Turner and Joanne Baker, and parents Genevieve and Julian Allwine. He is survived by his daughter Marsha and Fred Miller of Rochester, Washington; daughter Brenda and Dwayne Medlin of Dallas, Texas; son Jerry and Cherie Allwine of Richland; son Greg and Laura Allwine of Enumclaw, Washington; son Gene and Barb Allwine of Moscow, Idaho; son Darel and Sally Allwine of Richland; son Darin and Cindy Allwine of Woodbridge, Virginia; Suzanne’s children and grandchildren; Joanne’s children and grandchildren; and sister Genevieve LeBlanc of Simi Valley, California.  All together Ken has 9 children, 23 grandchildren, and 31 great grandchildren.

Graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 1:00 PM at Einan’s at Sunset, 915 Bypass Hwy, Richland, Washington.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Betty Mae Alvord Allwine Memorial Scholarship in Nursing at Lewis-Clark State College. Donations can be mailed to the following address or credit card donations can be made by phone at 208-792-2458.

LCSC Foundation

500 8^th Ave

Lewiston, ID 83501