He was, quite literally, a rocket scientist. Raised in Coalville, Utah, he was his high school's salutatorian before earning his Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from the University of Utah; then he worked at Rohm and Haas in Huntsville, Alabama, developing rocket fuel for the nascent space program.
Later he was employed at Radian Corporation and the IRS in Austin. We loved him. We learned from him. He enjoyed reading The Skeptical Inquirer, was an expert hand at bridge, and I'm not sure what else to say.
He is survived by three daughters: Joy Lynette Pounds, Lisa Studdard, and Alison Urban (Karl Urban – spouse). Predeceased by his wife, Helen Wilde, he also is survived by seven grandchildren: Amy, Jennifer Hutchinson, Austin Harris, Brooke Studdard, Lindsay Urban Killeen, Curtis Urban, and Danielle Urban. He didn't want a service; we will gather at the graveside at Austin Memorial Cemetery to memorialize him at 2 pm on May 27th. Anyone who wishes may attend. Donate to your favorite charity if you wish. The end.
Please join us in remembering Kenneth by visiting our memorial at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com. Through this site, we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home.
2 Entries
May 30, 2017
Charles Lowell
I will always remember being 4 or 5 years old and visiting my father's office where Ken worked.
When you're that age, you can count the number of grown-ups that talk to you on one hand, but he would always take time to turn away from his computer and answer all of the questions I had (which I'm sure were many)
He took all of them very seriously, and his answers were thorough and age-appropriate. It was from Dr Wilde that I first learned that you could program computers and I'll never forget him explaining to me his opinions on the C, Algol, and Fortran languages.
One of the smartest men that I ever knew (my father), considered him one of the smartest people that he'd ever known. That speaks volumes, but I will always remember the patience and kindness that he showed me as a child.
May 24, 2017
L
Sorrow makes us all children again- destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest knows nothing. Ralph Waldo Emerson
With deepest sympathy
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results
Funeral services provided by:
Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more