Kenneth Charles Tarbutton

February 20, 1940 – April 24, 2018

Ken Tarbutton, 78, passed away on April 24 ^th due to complications of anemia.

Ken was the oldest of three children to Elmer and Freda Tarbutton born at home on February 20 ^th , 1940 in Mansfield Missouri. As a young boy the family moved to California. Ken graduated from Long Beach Poly High school in 1958 and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1959. Ken was assigned to the 7 ^th Battalion 1 ^st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton where he did his basic training. After he served his active duty, he then served as a Marine Reservist until 1965. Ken worked with his dad at International Harvester as a parts salesman until he joined the Garden Grove Fire Department. After 4 years with the Garden Grove Fire Department he tested and then transferred to the Long Beach Fire Department. Ken, aka (Stretch) as his fellow coworkers loved to call him, retired after approximately 30 years in the fire service.

Ken married Diana Jean Kauer in February of 1960 and lovingly raised two children, Scott and Stacy, in the Long Beach area for a couple of years before moving to Lakewood California for 10 years. From Lakewood they moved to Huntington Beach, where they spent time traveling and fell in love with their new second home in Lake Havasu City. From Huntington Beach they moved to San Juan Capistrano where the two spent the rest of retirement. In San Juan Capistrano Ken became active in the HOA and the landscape committee. Ken and Diana had many close friends and loved to travel the world and go camping with family. He also loved to go exploring in the desert in his Jeep, motorcycle riding, boating on different lakes, rivers and the ocean.

Ken is survived by his wife Diana after 58 years of loving marriage, his kids Scott and Stacy, his grandson Ryan, and his sister Shirley and brother Fred.

There will be a memorial service at O’Connor Mortuary’s chapel on May 8 ^th at 2:00 pm. The Address is 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA. Following the service there will be a Celebration of Life at Scott and Laura’s home in Laguna Niguel.