August 18, 1960 ~ October 4, 2021 (age 61)
Ret. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kenneth Murley Goben, age 61, died Monday, October 4, 2021, as a result of an automobile accident. Kenneth was born on August 18, 1960 in Joliet, Illinois to the late Kenneth R. Goben and Kay L. Goben.
Kenneth enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1980 and entered recruit training at San Diego Recruit Depot. Private Goben was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class and graduated Boot camp in July of 1980. He attended Fire Direction Controlman’s Course at Fort Sill, OK where he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal and graduated in September 1980. He then was stationed at the 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendelton, CA where he was promoted to Corporal and eventually Staff Sergeant. As Staff Sergeant he served as the Regimental Survey Chief, 11th Marines. In 1988 he was promoted to Warrant Officer and attended the Warrant Officer Basic Course at The Basic School, Quantico, VA. He was assigned as Battalion Survey Officer for 4th Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan and then the 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC where he was assigned Counterbattery Radar Platoon Commander.
He deployed with a Radar Detachment with the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade aboard the USS Shreveport for OPERATION DESERT SHIELD. After he was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2, he joined the remainder of his Counterbattery Radar Platoon at Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia. He remained there throughout the ground offensive of OPERATION DESERT STORM until returning to the CONUS in April 1991. He remained the CBR Platoon Commander during which time he was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3.
He was accepted to the College Degree Program and attended Campbell University where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science Degree in December of 1996. Upon returning to 10th Marines, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Goben was assigned as the Battalion Survey Officer, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines from January 1997 until January 2000. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4, in August 1999. He was currently working with the Columbus County Veterans Service Office in Whiteville.
He is survived by his wife; Teresa Polkow Goben of Whiteville, three daughters; Tamara Ann Akers of Goldsboro, Jennifer Pena of Whiteville, and Julie Long of TN, a son; Robert Shelton of Hallsboro and a sister; Wendy Goben Gettys of IL, grandchildren; Jenna Long, Scarlett Long, Alyssa Akers, Joshua Akers, Cierra Akers, Ayla Landis, Angel Shelton, Skyler Shelton, Christopher Shelton, Joshua Wright, Tyler Pappas, Brian Michalec and Kasandra Michalec, 6 great grandchildren, 2 nieces and 1 nephew.
Funeral services with military honors will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 2:00 pm at the McKenzie Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Russell Honeycutt officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.
Services are entrusted to McKenzie Mortuary, 112 Jefferson St., Whiteville
