Obituary from the Delta Junction, Alaska "Delta Wind" newspaper, dated Thursday, April 19, 2012, page A-3:

Kenneth James Fair, 69, died March 6, 2012, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage after a long illness.Ken was born July 21, 1942, in Greenville, Tenn. He spent his childhood years in Tennessee and Illinois, one of seven children born to Edgar W. Fair Sr. and Leona Ruth Ragan Fair.

He joined the Illinois National Guard in 1960 and the following year enlisted in the Army, where he served 23 years. He was stationed in Berlin from 1961 to 1964.
He served two tours in Vietnam, from 1965-66 and 1970-72. In 1965, he was involved in the LZ Xray battle, the first major combat engagement of U.S. forces in Vietnam. He was a reconnaissance and helicopter gunner. On his second tour, he was a platoon leader and platoon sergeant, among other duties. He was a veteran of the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry.

From 1972 to 1975, he was in the Army's Old Guard, serving on funeral detachments and congressional escort duty.

He received a Bronze Star with V device, two other Bronze Stars, a Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals with V device, a Vietnam Gallantry Cross, a sharpshooter badge and many other commendations during his service. Some of his military service is recounted in the book "Sappers in the Wire" by Keith William Nolan, who served with Ken during the Vietnam War.

Ken asked to be stationed in Alaska and arrived in the state in the mid-1970s, serving at Fort Wainwright and at Fort Greely. He left the Army in 1984. He entered civil service in 1985, working until 1999 at both bases.

From 1985 through 2004 he was a volunteer fireman for the Rural Deltana Fire Department. He was a station captain, assistant fire chief, fire arson investigator and driver.
Steve McCombs, president of the department's board of directors, said "the legacy of service set by Ken will always be respected and be a high mark for others to meet."
In the early 1990s he met his future wife, Margaret, in Delta Junction, and the couple married in December 1994. They lived in Delta throughout their marriage.

Ken enjoyed fishing, repairing electronics, model railroading, reading and paying attention to politics.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar W. Fair Sr. and Leona Ruth Ragan Fair; brother, Loyde; sisters, Gladys Fair Ross and Florence Fair Stroup.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Fair; daughter, Nicole R. Fair, and granddaughter, Jessica Fair, both of Morristown, Tenn.; aunt and uncle, Elsie and James Renner of Tennessee; brothers, Henry L. "Buddy" Fair (Norma) of Capron, Ill., Carroll E. Fair and Robert L. Fair, both of Belvidere, Ill., and Edgar W. Fair Jr., of McHenry, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Margaret's children, Janet, Michelle, Donna, Brian and Ginger; and also by beloved grandchildren, Mikey, Nicholas, Kiely, Kamron, Emmy, Hannah, Seth, Jazmine, Lindsey and Alex, to whom he will always be "Poppy" and "Grandad."

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Delta Junction Community Center. A reception will follow at the community center. A military honor guard and representatives of the fire department will participate in the service. Plans are pending for an inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery.