Edward Junior Kelton

Edward Junior Kelton was born January 25, 1942, in Poplar, California, to Otis and Veneta Kelton. He grew up in the Bakersfield area where he attended high school. He married and had a daughter in Bakersfield before heading to Oregon where their son was born in Eugene. The family lived on a farm in the Veneta area where they raised hundreds of chickens along with other animals including peacocks. Edward also raised horses and had buggies to ride in. He raised his children to hunt and fish and taught them how to enjoy the outdoors. Edward and his son also had dirt bikes and loved to ride. It was a wonderful country life for his family. Edward worked for Georgia Pacific for many years doing various jobs at the mill over the years. He was a good man who loved his family and his God. During the years in Veneta he would often accompany his brother while he preached at local churches. Edward loved the Lord and faithfully attended his whole life. He left Veneta and moved to Salem, Oregon, where he spent the last couple of decades.A lover of people, Edward easily made friends wherever he went. He knew all the neighbors in his complex and some became very dear friends. Whenever his daughter-in-law was working at the Fred Meyer down the road, he would walk down and hang out, socializing with many of her coworkers. He was always active and walked around downtown Salem, enjoying his stops at the Saturday Market when it was open. Within the last year, Edward’s health worsened, which he mostly tried to keep from his family so they would not worry. He was always a bit of a stubborn man and didn’t care much to be fussed over by doctors. In the end, it is a blessing that he did not suffer long or spend too much time unable to enjoy the freedoms he loved. On October 27, 2020, Edward passed-away at his home in Salem, now safely home in the arms of Jesus. Edward was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his children Natalie (Greg Elledge) Kelton and Steve (Heidi Henthorn) Kelton.