Kenneth Hugh Newton

May 21, 1936 – December 26, 2019

Ken was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle; a loyal friend, a passionate teacher, a voracious reader, and lifelong learner. An adventurer at heart and risk taker until the very end, his passing on Thursday, December 26, 2019 was due to complications following open heart surgery in his birthplace, Los Angeles, CA.

Ken was born on May 21, 1936 to Vantine McIntyre and Hubert Newton. As an avid genealogy researcher, Ken was proud to have traced his roots as an 11th generation direct male descendant of the Rev. Roger Newton, probably the first Newton in America. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Leticia Vallejo Alveláis Newton; his daughter Erica Luz Newton Fessia and her family; husband Gary Fessia, daughter Madison, and son Parker of Bonita, CA; his son Augusto Kenneth Newton and his family; wife Sabrina, and daughter Emma of Santa Clarita, CA; and his adoring canine companion, Mr. White.

Ken grew up in Los Angeles and attended Hamilton High School before joining the Marines at 17. Through hard work and the help of the GI Bill, Ken pursued his studies at Santa Monica City College and UCLA before moving to Mexico City and graduating from the Universidad de las Américas with a degree in Spanish and Latin American history. He went on to get a teaching credential at Cal State Long Beach and later returned to Mexico for graduate studies. He was a fluent speaker and writer of Spanish. Going to Mexico, he always said, was the best decision of his life. He met his future wife Leticia there, learned a new language and culture, and became part of her extended family.

Ken had two successful careers. He worked in Mexico as a manufacturing executive crossing the international border daily for over 30 years, and then took a huge pay cut to teach English as a second language to adults. He loved teaching and it showed. He was well respected by his students and peers. He developed a pronunciation course for non-English speakers that is still being taught. After retiring from teaching he volunteered as an English tutor at the Chula Vista Library.

Ken’s life adventures included boyhood days fishing on Lake Arrowhead, racing cars and motorcycles as a young man under the pseudonym Kenny Hanson, and being resourceful by growing his own vegetables and building his own furniture. In retirement he enjoyed playing games with his grandkids, spending time with friends and neighbors, rooting for the Aztecs basketball team, roasting coffee beans from around the world in search of the perfect cup, and completing the NYT crossword puzzle each morning.

Ken’s ashes will be interred at Miramar National Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 18th at his daughter’s home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sulphur Springs Education Foundation FIRST LEGO League KenBots Fund.