Kenton (Ken) L. Chambers
(1929 - 2024)
Kenton L. Chambers passed away on May 22, 2024 at Good Samaritan Regional Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in Los Angeles, California on September 27, 1929 to Maynard Macy Chambers and Edna (Miller) Chambers. Ken spent his early years in Pasadena, Whittier and Laguna Beach. He was active in Boy Scouts, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He took piano lessons from an early age, sang in a boys choir, played baritone horn in junior high and trombone in high school and college. He graduated from Paso Robles HS in 1945 and attended Whittier College on a four-year scholarship. He majored in biology and graduated in 1950 with highest honors. While at Whittier, Ken became an accomplished chess player.
Ken's post-graduate studies continued at Stanford University with an emphasis in botany. He received his Ph.D in 1955 and did post-doctoral work at UCLA. In 1956 he joined the faculty in the Department of Botany at Yale University. Ken met his future wife, Henrietta Laing, at Yale and they were married in June 1958. Their daughter Elaine was born in New Haven in 1960 and son David was born in 1961 in Corvallis.
In 1960, Ken accepted a position in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State College (now OSU). His research on several genera of Asteraceae (Compositae) allowed for Ken to have field studies over the next 30 years in Oregon and California. He mentored 15 Ph.D. students and 16 Masters students. Ken took a leave from OSU in 1967 when he chaired the Systematic Biology Program for NSF in Washington, DC. In the mid-1970's Ken became involved with an Oregon state task force on rare and endangered plants which culminated in co-authorship of "Rare, Threatened and Endangered Vascular Plants in Oregon". He was a member of many professional societies including The American Society of Plant Taxonomists where he served as president in 1979. In 1989, the year before Ken retired from OSU, he received the OSU Alumni Distinguished Professor Award and a Certificate of Merit from the Botanical Society of America. In 1991 he was elected a Fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and in 2006, a Botanical Society of America Centennial Award for exemplary service to Plant Science. Ken was the author or co-author of over 200 peer-reviewed papers.
In 1974, Ken and his family built a log cabin from a pre-fab kit on property in Camp Sherman that has become a favorite family destination for 50 years. After Ken retired, he volunteered on the Oregon Flora Project and then collaborated with Dr. George Poinar on publishing 40 species of ancient flowers imbedded in amber. He and Henny enjoyed taking cruise vacations. He performed in eight Gilbert & Sullivan operettas at OSU and played baritone horn in the Corvallis Community and New Horizons bands. He started writing long palindromes to the enjoyment of friends and family and a collection of them will be published in his memory.
Ken is predeceased by his brother, Derrell. He is survived by his wife Henrietta, daughter Elaine Rea (Bill), son David, four grandchildren: Brian Chambers (Jenny Metcalf), Melanie Chambers (Jeremy Laughton), Hayley Rea Sherman (Aaron), and Holly Rea, and three great-grandchildren: Drake Pike, Holden Sherman, and Arlo Sherman. No service is planned per Ken's request. The family will celebrate his life in Camp Sherman later this summer. Memorial donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy or OSU Foundation.
Photo and obituary from Albany Democrat-Herald, 4 June 2024.
For more details on Ken's life and accomplishments, please see the Festschrift published in honor of his 70th birthday.