Kenneth Dominy

He grew up in Independence surrounded by Dominy and Hobson family members who were a part of the Friends (Quaker) community. After graduating from Independence High School, he attended the University of Tulsa on a music scholarship where he played oboe in the university orchestra. He graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering, where he participated in a work-study program, which sent him to the oilfields of West Texas. His first job was with Atlantic Oil Company in Dallas.

In 1941, he moved to Magnolia, Arkansas where he met and married Pauline Talley on November 21, 1941. Pearl Harbor intervened two weeks later. Ken served as an Aircraft Engineering Officer in the 392nd Air Service Squadron of the Army Air Corps, 5th Army, in the Southwest Pacific Theater from September 1942 to March 17, 1946 (his 27th birthday).

Upon his return, he went back to Atlantic Oil Company, for whom he worked in southern Arkansas and Great Bend, Kansas where his daughter Dorothy Ann was born. They lived in many towns across south Louisiana before moving to Fort Worth, Texas in the early 1950’s after taking a job in drilling and production for Midwest Oil Corporation. He was a member of the Petroleum Club, Colonial Country Club and University Baptist Church. In 1962 the family moved to Denver, Colorado where he discovered the Rocky Mountains. There he fished, hunted, skied and terrified his family and southern friends with drives over the highest mountain roads. He enjoyed games of pitch and gin rummy at the Denver Petroleum Club and became an avid Denver Broncos fan.

The 1970’s brought new and exciting challenges, when he joined Amoco International and moved to an apartment in downtown Chicago. He enrolled in intense French language studies and immersed himself in the details of Amoco’s production enterprises from the North Sea wells off the Scottish coast, to wells outside of Cape Town, South Africa. He lived in Pakistan for six months in the mid 1970’s and in Algiers, Algeria for two years before retiring and returning to work for Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company based in Denver. Upon his return to Denver, he found his partner of the last 35 years, Maggie Jenkins, whom he married on May 28, 1977. He developed a keen interest in the environment and health issues. In 1984 this interest led to Ken’s service as Secretary/Treasurer of the Rocky Mountain Environmental Health Association. From 1989 to 1991, he then served as the president of the Human Ecology Action League, Inc., a national non-profit organization concerned with the environment and health. He continued on HEAL’s Board after his term as president, ending his Board service in 1998.

The year 1991 was another pivotal year as he bade farewell to his beloved Colorado and moved back to Texas.

In 1991, he joined American Legion Post 117 in Rockwall, Texas and served as its Financial Officer for nearly a decade. He was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church and The New Beginnings Sunday School Class in Rowlett, Texas.

He and Maggie traveled to many places and settled into the role of grand and great-grand parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-five years, Maggie Jenkins Dominy, his only child Dorothy Ann Torkelson and her husband Dr. Richard E. Torkelson of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He also leaves his grandson Christopher E. Torkelson (Valerie) of Westfield, New Jersey and his granddaughter Tiffany Ann Smith (Mike) of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Ken has six great grandchildren: John Philip, Lucy Ann, Eric James, and Katy Jean Torkelson, and Olivia Talley and Mallory Danielle Smith. Ken’s sister Peggy Ann Heape Ihrig also survives him. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Leroy and Altha Hobson Dominy, and by his sister Nelda Rose Kelley.

Visitation will be at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home on Monday, April 9, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. First United Methodist Church of Rowlett. A graveside service will be held afterward at 2:00 p. m. at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Maggie asks that in lieu of flowers, a contribution be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Ken’s memory.