Hubbard, Kenneth

Kenneth Hubbard, 85, of Portales, died Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at Roosevelt General Hospital, Portales.

Born Jan. 20, 1921, in Afton, Okla., to Gladys and Osgood E. Hubbard, he grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri, graduating from high school in Festus, Mo. He came to Portales in 1939 to attend Eastern New Mexico Junior College, and made his home with his aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Walker Hubbard, at the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home. He attended ENMU almost 4 years before enlisting in the Army. He served in North Africa and France during World War II, returning to Portales after the war.

On Sept. 1, 1946, he married Marguerite Hopkins. In about 1950, he established the Modern Shoe Store on the square in Portales, and moved the store in the late 1970s into Turner’s Department Store. He was a longtime member and past president of the Portales Kiwanis Club. He worked with Little League for years. A member of the First Baptist Church, he served as a deacon for more than 50 years. He taught a Men’s Bible class for many years until his death and also served as Sunday School superintendent. Family members said he was civic minded and a regular contributor to Friends of Eastern. ENMU awarded him an honorary degree in 2004.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Hubbard, and his aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Walker Hubbard.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Carol Iverson (and husband, Derek) of Kent, Wash.; and five grandchildren, Axel, Joya, Mattie and Kara Iverson, and Mercy Matsuda.

Herbert Bergstrom will officiate services. Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Jim Love, Melvin Littlejohn, Richard Lambirth, Grady Jenkins, Rusty Galloway and Jim Davis will be pallbearers. The deacons of the First Baptist Church and members of his Men’s Sunday School Class will be honorary pallbearers.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary, Portales.