Kenneth A. Reynolds

Kenneth “Ken” Arlen Reynolds was born in Bakersfield, California on March 7, 1933. As an only child and third generation Californian, he was raised in both Bakersfield and Lebec by his mother Geneve and Stepfather Don Daigle. He attended Bakersfield (Kern County) High School where he met his high school sweetheart Patricia “Pat” Ann Olerich. As a high school graduate Ken continued on to earn his AA degree from Bakersfield College in 1953. From 1954 to 1956 Ken served in the US Army during the Korean War. Once returning home from deployment, and after a 5 year courtship, Ken asked Pat to be his bride and they were married on September 9, 1956 in Bakersfield surrounded by friends and family. After the two wed, Ken and Pat moved to Fresno, California where Ken earned his BA degree in Geology from Fresno State College in 1959.

Upon completion of his BA degree Ken and Pat moved to Los Angeles for three years; however in 1962 Ken and Pat followed Ken’s professional mentor and moved to Huntington Beach, California where Ken was hired as an Associate Planner for the Planning Department with the City of Huntington Beach. The couple lived in an apartment on Florida Street for a year where they welcomed their first baby Katherine Ann Reynolds on May 19, 1962. Shortly after Katherine’s arrival the couple purchased their first and forever home in Huntington Beach in 1963. Three years later On May 23, 1965 the couple expanded their family when they welcomed their son Matthew Scott Reynolds. During this exciting time Ken worked diligently to earn a Masters of Science in City and Regional Planning in the School of Architecture and Fine Arts as well as the School of Public Administration from the University of Southern California in 1966. After receiving his Masters degree Ken was promoted to Planning Director for the City of Huntington Beach. At that time he was the youngest Planning Director in Orange County and held this position until he retired at the young age of 40 in 1973.

In the years from 1973 to 1993 Ken attained his General Contractor license, served as a planning consultant, and would often participate in projects related to urban planning and design, environmental studies, as well as residential, commercial and industrial projects. He was a charter member of the American Institute of Certified Planners; he served as a member of the Long Beach Masonic Lodge, the Bixby Knolls Neptune Lodge, the Long Beach Scottish Rite, El Bekal Shrine, and the Long Beach Royal Order of Jesters.

Throughout the years Ken enjoyed vacationing with his family which frequently consisted of backpacking trips throughout Yosemite, deep sea and salmon fishing with his friends, and an annual trip with his buddies and son Matt to Yuma, Arizona to kick off bird hunting season. Ken and Pat participated in a monthly cooking club where Ken would often share his love of cooking Chinese cuisine. In his almost 87 years of life Ken has created a legacy that will continue on through his wife Pat, his two children Katherine and Matthew, his seven grandchildren Jessica, Joseph, Vanessa, Austin, Mason, Emma, and Mattie, his great granddaughter Annabelle and soon to be great grandson Oliver.

The Reynolds family would like to thank you for joining us today in celebration of Ken’s life. We greatly appreciate your love and support throughout Ken’s illness and the many ways you enriched his life. Donations in Ken’s memory can be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association P.O. Box 97216 Washington, DC 20090-7216