Robert 'Kenneth' Aber

He was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Ethel Bilyeu Aber and Seth Perry Aber on July 19, 1919. He attended Central High School. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He graduated from Yale University in 1941 and from the Harvard Business School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1946, having attained the rank of Captain. He served again from 1950 until 1952, stationed at the Army Intelligence School at Ft. Riley, Kansas.

Kenneth became a deacon at First Baptist Church in 1950. In 1951, he married Sarajane Sandusky and they had three sons: James Sandusky Aber, Robert Kenneth Aber, Jr., and Thomas Carr Aber. Kenneth worked as a freight traffic consultant with the Sandusky Traffic Counselors for 45 years.

Over the years Kenneth sat on the boards of many organizations. These included the General Council and General Board of American Baptist Churches, the Central Baptist Theological Seminary, the Kansas City Human Rights Commission, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Friends of the Library at U.M.K.C., and the New Ear Contemporary Music Ensemble.

In 1964 Kenneth served as the chair of a successful, city-wide campaign to secure the passage of Kansas City’s Public Accommodations Ordinance. He served as the president of the Forty Years Ago Club and of the Kansas City Rose Society. Kenneth and his wife Sarajane both volunteered as docents at the Nelson-Atkins Museum for many years.

In addition to his three sons, Kenneth is survived by his two daughters-in-law: Susie Ward and Beth Whitaker, three grandchildren: Jeremy Ward (married to Amy Alayne), Jay Thomas (married to Lauren Brown), and Zoë Camille, and by two great-granddaughters: Rose Eleanor and Flora Jane.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, 100 West Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64114, (816) 942-1866; http://fbckcmo.net/

and / or

The Kansas City Rose Society, c/o Betsy Beasley, Treasurer, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Missouri 64112, http://www.kansascityrosesociety.org/

are welcome.

A memorial celebration will be held at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Wornall Road and Red Bridge Road in Kansas City at noon on Saturday, January 13th.