Greenfield-Kenneth E. Dow, 88, of Greenfield, died on Friday (1/6/12) at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after a short period of failing health. Born in Pelham, Mass. on June 17, 1923, Ken was the son of Harry Alvord Dow and Bertha Louise Magrath.

After graduating from Amherst High School in 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and completed tours of duty in the South Pacific during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He spent many years in the Marine Corps Reserves traveling back and forth to the South Weymouth Naval Air Station and was extremely proud to be a Marine.

Ken and Jane Iola Perry of Worcester were married in September of 1946. They spent 63 years together and made their home in Greenfield. Jane died on Dec. 14, 2009.

He worked for 34 years for the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, most of his years in the Greenfield location. Prior to his permanent retirement, he worked for Classic Foods.

Ken leaves two sons, Barry L. Dow and his wife Patricia M. Allen, with whom he made his home, and Gregory A. Dow and his wife Penny, all of Greenfield. He took great pride in his grandchildren Jennifer L. Morley and her husband Edward of Leyden; Jeffrey S. Dow and his wife Jennifer of Simpsonville, S.C.; Michelle L. Hunter and her husband Robert of Northfield; Amanda JDow-Allen of Portland, Ore. and Matthew C. Dow-Allen of No. Quincy, Mass.; and his Soper grandchildren Jennifer Denkiewicz, Stephanie Seo, and Jayme Soper and also grandchildren Jessica and Justin Norman. He also leaves 10 great grandchildren; Edward and Melissa Morley; Sean, Connor and Jameson Dow; Tyler and Jayden Hunter; Olivia and Natalie Denkiewicz; and Morgan Seo. Ken is survived by a number of cousins, nephews and nieces and his good friends Gene Mason, Ron Graves, John Kruk and Sandra Lavalle.

Ken will miss his "girls," the Connecticut Women's Basketball Team. He spent countless hours watching women's basketball and knew all of the names, individual player and team statistics.

A graveside service will be held on Wed., Jan. 11,2011 at 11 a.m. at the High Street Cemetery in Greenfield, Mass. with the United Church of Bernardston, Rev. Raymond Medeiros, officiating. There are no calling hours.