  If you have a fun story, thought, or photo you would like to share about Ken. Please email me at me@kendallroberg.com and I will post it at the bottom of this page. If your post does not get posted within 48 hours, please email me again, as it must have not arrived. The annual family Christmas party at Ken & Erin's in 2004 was as usual a very special time. This would be the last time I saw Ken and as it turned out he made this party an especially memorable one. Mid way through the party Ken announced he had something special to share with us. He gathered us all in the living room to see what he had quite by accident discovered just that morning. It was an old (1979) family movie. Suddenly there was my Dad and my Grandpa and all the rest of our family members smiling, laughing and singing. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. As you would expect just a few weeks later we all received in the mail a copy of that special tape. Thank you cousin Kenny.
I first met Ken in 1979. Ken was working at the police/city garage and I in the police department. Ken was so kind. He would fix our Crime Prevention vehicles (command post and crime prevention trailer). It got to the point that there seemed to always be something we needed. So when Ken would see me coming his way he would roll his eyes.
Through the years of softball and waterpolo games that we shared with the Stiles family, Kenny was supportive and kind to my daughters, Sarah & Teresa. I like the description that Lloyd Todd made ... mild mannered "Clark Kent", but underneath he was Superman. I was privileged to frequently meet Superman in person! Though geography and a generation kept us from knowing each other well, I was always proud to have Ken as my brother. As a child, I loved watching old home movies of him clowning around by the pool with our dad. And because I was only 6 years old when our dad died, it gave me comfort knowing that in addition to the 2 sisters I grew up with, he also left me 2 half-brothers - Kenny and Denny. Even from a distance it was always clear that Ken was a gentle man who loved a good laugh and was devoted to his family and friends. I wish I had known him better. That the flags of the City of Glendale are flying at half-staff today makes me proud. It lets me know that he was loved by many and that though his life was too short, he spent his years well.
Pat and I have so many fond memories of Ken, can't choose just one! We spent a lot of time together with the Stiles and Bruntons - playing volleyball, working on each other's homes, great Halloween parties - probably most memorable was the Roller Derby Team....., backyard BBQ's, camping, the list could go on and on. Lots of laughter and good times!
What is so cool is that I have so many wonderful memories of Ken.
One that sticks out the most is when Laura and I carpooled with the Stiles family to a Jr. Olympic Water polo game in San Jose. I wanted to get something to drink at a 7-11, and Ken walked there with me. Along with a diet coke, I bought a lottery scratch-off. Buying tickets is not what I do often. It was the first time I had ever won anything. $60.00 was the prize. I gave Ken a cut for being my lucky charm. The rest I split with Laura. I wanted so badly to come up with the perfect story to contribute to Ken’s memory on this website. But try as I may, I just could not come up with a single specific story I wanted to share about Ken. Instead I am blessed with the recollection of my childhood. Memories of girl scouts, tee ball, baseball, water polo, birthday parties and sleepovers. I have known Shelley and her family longer than I have known how to tie my shoes, and she and her family are a part of each of those memories. Just about three years ago I was lucky enough to meet Ken through my son Kevin Todd. Both Ken and Kevin included me in afternoon golf matches at Verdugo Hills or other various courses. Sundays just aren't as much fun as they used to be. Wherever you are, Ken, I hope the wind is always at your back, the greens are smooth and there's no waiting at the next tee box. One of my fond memories of Uncle Kenny happen early summer 1997. I was working in downtown LA for 2 weeks (office is in Sacramento) and made plans to have dinner with Uncle Kenny, Aunt Erin and the girls. We where having dinner at a Mexican restaurant, Nicole (co-worker/friend) and I where explaining the work we where doing to all. Uncle Kenny made the comment of how fast time has gone by and he couldn't believe he was talking about work with his niece, because it seemed like I was just in high school last month. He said he was feeling old and we all joke about him being old and needing his walker after dinner to get to the car and he joke back with us. He did make sure that we all knew that Aunt Erin was older than him. When I left home, a very naďve young 18 year old many years ago, I was taken under the wings of my cousin Erin and her husband Ken. They helped me find my first apartment and introduced me to their friends and made sure that I never felt alone in those early days on my own. I enjoyed the many four wheeling trips (frog jeep), camping and skiing trips and especially the Wednesday night volleyball games at Glendale College. I have known the Stiles for 20 years. I went to kindergarten with Shelley and many of our other friends. A lot of my friends and their families have given me many nicknames throughout my life. Whenever I was at the Stiles house or saw Ken I would remember him always saying, "Hi Pammy" with a huge grin. My close friends and I have such active parents and Ken was one of them. Always at the pool or the sidelines of a softball game. I know this is such a hard time for everyone, but remember he is resting now and looking over everyone during this difficult time. I find comfort in knowing that my Dad has a buddy now in heaven, someone to share coffee with and enjoy a good round of golf. I hope this helps the Stiles with knowing that Kenny isn't alone.
My mentor, my golf partner and a damn good friend. Ken and I, well, we fought a lot...about who would get the check at lunch, or who would pay for the round of golf, or who hit the ball the farthest. Anyone who was privileged to have known Ken knows that his generosity, affection and selflessness were limitless. We spent many days together playing golf. I can't remember the names of the courses or what the scores were, but I'll never forget the laughs and the companionship. Dave and I felt so fortunate when Ken, Erin and the girls moved next
door to us
many years ago. Shelley and Jessie house/dogsat for us so many times
over the
years. Even though the girls were extremely capable, we secretly felt
when we
hired them that we were hiring Ken as well because we knew if anything
went
wrong with the house during our absence, he'd be right there to fix it.
Ken was
always sweet and gentle with our little dog, Freddie. Ken encouraged
Dave's
interest in golf by giving him a set of clubs and even inviting him out
on the
course to play. There was no home project too challenging for Ken.
Since I'm
not mechanically inclined, I would ask his input on projects. He'd
always give
helpful advice and loan me items to make the job go smoother. My
favorite
memory, though, is seeing Ken and Dave standing at the fence, having
their
weekly visit. They talked about politics, the neighborhood, family,
retirement,
you name it. They had similar careers in that Dave worked 33 years for
a public
agency before he retired 6 years ago. Just would like to say that Marry Ann you weren't the only on that was teased he teased me to after all Ken Stiles was Erin's husband I liked him a lot its going to be really different not having him around anymore sadly he won't be able to see his daughters marry or have kids of their own, I can remember being up at Keith & Gretian's wedding up in Fresno, California I was going after a 2nd piece of cake every time I'd reach for it Ken who had a fork in hand would make like he was going to get me with the fork so finally I looked at him then he finally let me have the second piece of cake. I have so many memories of my good friend from the last 32 years. We shared many family vacations together (The Bruntons & The Stiles), some with the kids and some without. The funniest thing was on many occasions we would be staying in the same hotel and he would call us up speaking in his best 'cultural accent'. I would answer the phone to something like this: "Housekeeping - Mrs. Brunton do you need some towels?" or "This is the front desk we have a message for you." Every time I was fooled into thinking it was the hotel management. It would take about 20 seconds of conversation before I realized who this was and then I would laugh and laugh. This happened almost every trip and I NEVER GOT IT! He would just keep fooling me everytime.
This has been a sad month for the Glendale family. On Sunday, February
12th, we lost a second long term employee, Building Maintenance
Supervisor,
Ken Stiles. Uncle Kenny was my second dad. Our families (the Bruntons & the Stiles) have spent so many vacations & special times together. I especially loved when our families went to Balboa Island & rented a beach house. It was fun times relaxing and getting all the good treats on the pennisula. Good times, good times.....
I can recall many a Saturday, while working motors for the police
dept, going over to Ken's house and sitting in the back yard to have
a cold drink and just passing the time. Back when you could get away
with it. My funny thought about Ken was that he was busy going to yard sales every weekend , picking up golf club deals. I'm not sure how long they hung around his garage, but when the Stiles would have a yard sale, then they would try to sell some of the golf clubs. Some times they practically gave them away, or begged customers to please take them. Of course, all of this was done when Ken was out at more yard sales shopping for more deals. The gals would have to pretend they made some great sales, and got a fair price for those golf clubs.
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