Kenneth Sutton

Ken Sutton, 95, (1928-2023) of Albuquerque, NM peacefully passed away on December 6, 2023. While at the University of Texas at Austin, Ken met his best friend and wife, Pat Sutton of 73 years. Theirs was true "love at first sight", as Pat accepted his proposal of marriage after knowing each other for only two weeks. Ken and Pat had a lifelong collaborative and caring relationship based on mutual support and a deep love for each other.

Ken is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he was a Member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and in the international fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity. After graduation, he went to work at Sandia Laboratory in Albuquerque, where he retired after 34 years and various personnel management positions. After that he spent a couple of years doing tax preparation, and then a couple more years as real estate broker of Sun Best Realty. He finally "retired" when his educator wife retired.

Ken and Pat traveled to 42 states, and internationally to Mexico, Canada, and Western Europe. He enjoyed scuba diving in the lakes of New Mexico, and particularly in the Gulf of Mexico where there was so much color in the reefs and fish surrounding him. He enjoyed many rounds of golf, although somewhat frustrated, and only once breaking par.

When not golfing or traveling Ken was either volunteering at the suicide hotline center manning the phones or playing guitar and singing at Albuquerque nursing homes. He was also an artist, whose pastels won numerous prizes and local art shows. While Ken took great fulfillment from other activities, nothing could compare to the pride he had in his family.

Ken was predeceased by his parents, sister, and wife. He is survived by his three children: Janet, Diane, and Jim; two grandchildren, Allison, and Aaron; and three great grandchildren, Abigail, Aubrey, and Austin. His kind spirit, love of learning, passion for music and art, and the zest for life will live on through them. Particularly endearing was his easy, laugh sense of humor and quick wit. Ken's unconditional love for his family, friends and colleagues and dogs clearly exhibited his love of life. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him. Ken was a person of faith and his was a life well lived. Both Ken and his wife passed and will be entered at Santa Fe national cemetery.