Born January 13, 1922, on a farm home near Cordell, Oklahoma, the second child of James Paul Pitzer and Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer. Ken's younger years were living with his mother and father as they farmed and moved from location to location. The exact dates are not known, but the following recalls some of the locations where Kenneth's childhood was spent.
From Cordell, Oklahoma the Pitzers moved to California, where they lived in more than one location. The family returned to southeastern Kansas, northeastern Okla., where they farmed on several farm steads. Kenneth's father, James Paul Pitzer disappeared in the spring of 1938, while they were living on a farm 6 miles north of Coffeyville, Kansas. Kenneth was a Sophomore attending Coffeyville High School. He rode his bicycle to and from school, about 10 miles one way. He says he could make it in about 30 minutes, if the elements were all in his favor, the wind, snow, and rain. The family consisted at that time of mother Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer and her nine children.
Bessie moved back to live with her parents, Odus Grant and Flora Ann (Brooks) Hill, where they lived on a farm southwest of Nickerson, Kansas. Kenneth went to live with Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer's brother George Riley Hill and his family. George lived on a farm that later became part of the upper part of Cheney Lake in southeast Reno county, Kansas. Kenneth graduated from the Pretty Prairie High School, while living with his Uncle George, in the spring of 1939. He worked the summer of 1939 for Mr. Farthing, a farmer who lived west of Hutchinson Kansas on the old Highway 50. Ken's Aunt Ruby was married to Stanley Farthing; Ken worked for Stanley's father. At the end of the summer Ken had saved his wages and had $75.00 or $80.00. With this he and his mother found a place the family could rent in Hutchinson, Kansas. Ken, his mother and all the brothers and sisters moved into this rental property at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The family's only support was from the Reno County Welfare. Kenneth attended the fall semester of the Hutchinson Junior College. With family on welfare and Kenneth the oldest of eight children at home (Lorene had married, 5/20/1940), if he was to stay with the family, the welfare required him to work and turnover any wages to them to help support the family. Kenneth thought it better he join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC camp), an organization established by the Federal Government for young men that needed work due to the Great Depression of the economy at that time. Kenneth served in the CCC's at a camp near Corydon, Iowa.
At the out break of the World War II, Kenneth joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at Chanute Air Base, near Champaign, Illinois. After training he was sent to Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. While at Sheppard Field, Ken took ill, with what the doctors thought was tuberculosis. Ken has often said he thought he only had a bad chest cold and pleurisy. Ken was hospitalized at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for four months, from August 1941 till December 1941. He was then sent to a tuberculosis recovery center near Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 1942 till August 1942. From there he returned to Kans., where he enrolled in McPherson College. He attended college from the fall of 1942 till the spring of 1943.
His next move was to Fort Worth, Texas to seek employment in the line of work he would follow for the rest of his life, aircraft industry related. His livelihood has been associated with the aircraft industry as a Design Engineer Draftsman. He worked for Consolidated - Vultee Aircraft Corporation, it is now known as General Dynamics Corporation. He was at Fort Worth, Texas from the spring of 1943 till the fall of 1944.
Kenneth next goes to California. Ken has worked for various Aircraft companies over the years, some that come to mind are Howard Hughes, Douglas, Boeing, Beechcraft, General Dynamics, Northrop, and Lockheed.
While working for Howard Hughes, Ken met Charlotte Trickle and they were married, May 26, 1945. Kenneth and Charlotte moved to McPherson, Kansas where they both enrolled in the Brethren College in the fall of 1945 and spring of 1946. McPherson College of the Brethren church in McPherson Kansas has much tradition for the Pitzer family. It was at McPherson College where Kenneth's Grandfather, John Riley Pitzer met his Grandmother, Annie Elizabeth (Bower) Pitzer. It was also where Kenneth's Father James Paul Pitzer was attending when he met his wife to be, Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer, while working for a farmer at Nickerson, Kansas. So, it is only natural that Ken would want to attend McPherson College with his new bride.
Ken and Charlotte returned to California, in 1946 where Ken continued to work in the Aircraft Industry. In January 1951, Ken moved again to Kansas, this time to Wichita, Kansas, where he was employed with the Aircraft industry of Wichita. They only lived in Kansas for a couple of years and returned to southern California, in the Los Angles area June 1953.
Ken invented and patented an adjustable bushing after returning to California. With his invention he formed a partnership with another fellow and they went into the design and manufacturing of Adjustable Bushings. From the success of this business, Kenneth sold his share in 1976, and went back to being an employee again. He took employment with Shur-Lok Corp. of Irvine, Calif., where he retired as of May 1991. He now does consulting and writing of technical documents.
From the marriage of Ken and Charlotte three boys were born. Edward William Pitzer, born April 22, 1948, at Culver City, Calif., Kenneth Harold Pitzer, Jr., born June 09, 1950, at Culver City, California, and James Michael Pitzer, born April 20, 1954, at Wichita, Kansas.
(Written by Phillip H. Pitzer, 10/24/91, with K.H. Pitzer's help.)
(a little clean-up 9/22/2022 dlg)
From Cordell, Oklahoma the Pitzers moved to California, where they lived in more than one location. The family returned to southeastern Kansas, northeastern Okla., where they farmed on several farm steads. Kenneth's father, James Paul Pitzer disappeared in the spring of 1938, while they were living on a farm 6 miles north of Coffeyville, Kansas. Kenneth was a Sophomore attending Coffeyville High School. He rode his bicycle to and from school, about 10 miles one way. He says he could make it in about 30 minutes, if the elements were all in his favor, the wind, snow, and rain. The family consisted at that time of mother Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer and her nine children.
Bessie moved back to live with her parents, Odus Grant and Flora Ann (Brooks) Hill, where they lived on a farm southwest of Nickerson, Kansas. Kenneth went to live with Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer's brother George Riley Hill and his family. George lived on a farm that later became part of the upper part of Cheney Lake in southeast Reno county, Kansas. Kenneth graduated from the Pretty Prairie High School, while living with his Uncle George, in the spring of 1939. He worked the summer of 1939 for Mr. Farthing, a farmer who lived west of Hutchinson Kansas on the old Highway 50. Ken's Aunt Ruby was married to Stanley Farthing; Ken worked for Stanley's father. At the end of the summer Ken had saved his wages and had $75.00 or $80.00. With this he and his mother found a place the family could rent in Hutchinson, Kansas. Ken, his mother and all the brothers and sisters moved into this rental property at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The family's only support was from the Reno County Welfare. Kenneth attended the fall semester of the Hutchinson Junior College. With family on welfare and Kenneth the oldest of eight children at home (Lorene had married, 5/20/1940), if he was to stay with the family, the welfare required him to work and turnover any wages to them to help support the family. Kenneth thought it better he join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC camp), an organization established by the Federal Government for young men that needed work due to the Great Depression of the economy at that time. Kenneth served in the CCC's at a camp near Corydon, Iowa.
At the out break of the World War II, Kenneth joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at Chanute Air Base, near Champaign, Illinois. After training he was sent to Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. While at Sheppard Field, Ken took ill, with what the doctors thought was tuberculosis. Ken has often said he thought he only had a bad chest cold and pleurisy. Ken was hospitalized at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for four months, from August 1941 till December 1941. He was then sent to a tuberculosis recovery center near Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 1942 till August 1942. From there he returned to Kans., where he enrolled in McPherson College. He attended college from the fall of 1942 till the spring of 1943.
His next move was to Fort Worth, Texas to seek employment in the line of work he would follow for the rest of his life, aircraft industry related. His livelihood has been associated with the aircraft industry as a Design Engineer Draftsman. He worked for Consolidated - Vultee Aircraft Corporation, it is now known as General Dynamics Corporation. He was at Fort Worth, Texas from the spring of 1943 till the fall of 1944.
Kenneth next goes to California. Ken has worked for various Aircraft companies over the years, some that come to mind are Howard Hughes, Douglas, Boeing, Beechcraft, General Dynamics, Northrop, and Lockheed.
While working for Howard Hughes, Ken met Charlotte Trickle and they were married, May 26, 1945. Kenneth and Charlotte moved to McPherson, Kansas where they both enrolled in the Brethren College in the fall of 1945 and spring of 1946. McPherson College of the Brethren church in McPherson Kansas has much tradition for the Pitzer family. It was at McPherson College where Kenneth's Grandfather, John Riley Pitzer met his Grandmother, Annie Elizabeth (Bower) Pitzer. It was also where Kenneth's Father James Paul Pitzer was attending when he met his wife to be, Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer, while working for a farmer at Nickerson, Kansas. So, it is only natural that Ken would want to attend McPherson College with his new bride.
Ken and Charlotte returned to California, in 1946 where Ken continued to work in the Aircraft Industry. In January 1951, Ken moved again to Kansas, this time to Wichita, Kansas, where he was employed with the Aircraft industry of Wichita. They only lived in Kansas for a couple of years and returned to southern California, in the Los Angles area June 1953.
Ken invented and patented an adjustable bushing after returning to California. With his invention he formed a partnership with another fellow and they went into the design and manufacturing of Adjustable Bushings. From the success of this business, Kenneth sold his share in 1976, and went back to being an employee again. He took employment with Shur-Lok Corp. of Irvine, Calif., where he retired as of May 1991. He now does consulting and writing of technical documents.
From the marriage of Ken and Charlotte three boys were born. Edward William Pitzer, born April 22, 1948, at Culver City, Calif., Kenneth Harold Pitzer, Jr., born June 09, 1950, at Culver City, California, and James Michael Pitzer, born April 20, 1954, at Wichita, Kansas.
(Written by Phillip H. Pitzer, 10/24/91, with K.H. Pitzer's help.)
(a little clean-up 9/22/2022 dlg)
Born January 13, 1922, on a farm home near Cordell, Oklahoma, the second child of James Paul Pitzer and Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer. Ken's younger years were living with his mother and father as they farmed and moved from location to location. The exact dates are not known, but the following recalls some of the locations where Kenneth's childhood was spent.
From Cordell, Oklahoma the Pitzers moved to California, where they lived in more than one location. The family returned to southeastern Kansas, northeastern Okla., where they farmed on several farm steads. Kenneth's father, James Paul Pitzer disappeared in the spring of 1938, while they were living on a farm 6 miles north of Coffeyville, Kansas. Kenneth was a Sophomore attending Coffeyville High School. He rode his bicycle to and from school, about 10 miles one way. He says he could make it in about 30 minutes, if the elements were all in his favor, the wind, snow, and rain. The family consisted at that time of mother Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer and her nine children.
Bessie moved back to live with her parents, Odus Grant and Flora Ann (Brooks) Hill, where they lived on a farm southwest of Nickerson, Kansas. Kenneth went to live with Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer's brother George Riley Hill and his family. George lived on a farm that later became part of the upper part of Cheney Lake in southeast Reno county, Kansas. Kenneth graduated from the Pretty Prairie High School, while living with his Uncle George, in the spring of 1939. He worked the summer of 1939 for Mr. Farthing, a farmer who lived west of Hutchinson Kansas on the old Highway 50. Ken's Aunt Ruby was married to Stanley Farthing; Ken worked for Stanley's father. At the end of the summer Ken had saved his wages and had $75.00 or $80.00. With this he and his mother found a place the family could rent in Hutchinson, Kansas. Ken, his mother and all the brothers and sisters moved into this rental property at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The family's only support was from the Reno County Welfare. Kenneth attended the fall semester of the Hutchinson Junior College. With family on welfare and Kenneth the oldest of eight children at home (Lorene had married, 5/20/1940), if he was to stay with the family, the welfare required him to work and turnover any wages to them to help support the family. Kenneth thought it better he join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC camp), an organization established by the Federal Government for young men that needed work due to the Great Depression of the economy at that time. Kenneth served in the CCC's at a camp near Corydon, Iowa.
At the out break of the World War II, Kenneth joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at Chanute Air Base, near Champaign, Illinois. After training he was sent to Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. While at Sheppard Field, Ken took ill, with what the doctors thought was tuberculosis. Ken has often said he thought he only had a bad chest cold and pleurisy. Ken was hospitalized at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for four months, from August 1941 till December 1941. He was then sent to a tuberculosis recovery center near Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 1942 till August 1942. From there he returned to Kans., where he enrolled in McPherson College. He attended college from the fall of 1942 till the spring of 1943.
His next move was to Fort Worth, Texas to seek employment in the line of work he would follow for the rest of his life, aircraft industry related. His livelihood has been associated with the aircraft industry as a Design Engineer Draftsman. He worked for Consolidated - Vultee Aircraft Corporation, it is now known as General Dynamics Corporation. He was at Fort Worth, Texas from the spring of 1943 till the fall of 1944.
Kenneth next goes to California. Ken has worked for various Aircraft companies over the years, some that come to mind are Howard Hughes, Douglas, Boeing, Beechcraft, General Dynamics, Northrop, and Lockheed.
While working for Howard Hughes, Ken met Charlotte Trickle and they were married, May 26, 1945. Kenneth and Charlotte moved to McPherson, Kansas where they both enrolled in the Brethren College in the fall of 1945 and spring of 1946. McPherson College of the Brethren church in McPherson Kansas has much tradition for the Pitzer family. It was at McPherson College where Kenneth's Grandfather, John Riley Pitzer met his Grandmother, Annie Elizabeth (Bower) Pitzer. It was also where Kenneth's Father James Paul Pitzer was attending when he met his wife to be, Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer, while working for a farmer at Nickerson, Kansas. So, it is only natural that Ken would want to attend McPherson College with his new bride.
Ken and Charlotte returned to California, in 1946 where Ken continued to work in the Aircraft Industry. In January 1951, Ken moved again to Kansas, this time to Wichita, Kansas, where he was employed with the Aircraft industry of Wichita. They only lived in Kansas for a couple of years and returned to southern California, in the Los Angles area June 1953.
Ken invented and patented an adjustable bushing after returning to California. With his invention he formed a partnership with another fellow and they went into the design and manufacturing of Adjustable Bushings. From the success of this business, Kenneth sold his share in 1976, and went back to being an employee again. He took employment with Shur-Lok Corp. of Irvine, Calif., where he retired as of May 1991. He now does consulting and writing of technical documents.
From the marriage of Ken and Charlotte three boys were born. Edward William Pitzer, born April 22, 1948, at Culver City, Calif., Kenneth Harold Pitzer, Jr., born June 09, 1950, at Culver City, California, and James Michael Pitzer, born April 20, 1954, at Wichita, Kansas.
(Written by Phillip H. Pitzer, 10/24/91, with K.H. Pitzer's help.)
(a little clean-up 9/22/2022 dlg)
From Cordell, Oklahoma the Pitzers moved to California, where they lived in more than one location. The family returned to southeastern Kansas, northeastern Okla., where they farmed on several farm steads. Kenneth's father, James Paul Pitzer disappeared in the spring of 1938, while they were living on a farm 6 miles north of Coffeyville, Kansas. Kenneth was a Sophomore attending Coffeyville High School. He rode his bicycle to and from school, about 10 miles one way. He says he could make it in about 30 minutes, if the elements were all in his favor, the wind, snow, and rain. The family consisted at that time of mother Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer and her nine children.
Bessie moved back to live with her parents, Odus Grant and Flora Ann (Brooks) Hill, where they lived on a farm southwest of Nickerson, Kansas. Kenneth went to live with Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer's brother George Riley Hill and his family. George lived on a farm that later became part of the upper part of Cheney Lake in southeast Reno county, Kansas. Kenneth graduated from the Pretty Prairie High School, while living with his Uncle George, in the spring of 1939. He worked the summer of 1939 for Mr. Farthing, a farmer who lived west of Hutchinson Kansas on the old Highway 50. Ken's Aunt Ruby was married to Stanley Farthing; Ken worked for Stanley's father. At the end of the summer Ken had saved his wages and had $75.00 or $80.00. With this he and his mother found a place the family could rent in Hutchinson, Kansas. Ken, his mother and all the brothers and sisters moved into this rental property at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The family's only support was from the Reno County Welfare. Kenneth attended the fall semester of the Hutchinson Junior College. With family on welfare and Kenneth the oldest of eight children at home (Lorene had married, 5/20/1940), if he was to stay with the family, the welfare required him to work and turnover any wages to them to help support the family. Kenneth thought it better he join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC camp), an organization established by the Federal Government for young men that needed work due to the Great Depression of the economy at that time. Kenneth served in the CCC's at a camp near Corydon, Iowa.
At the out break of the World War II, Kenneth joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at Chanute Air Base, near Champaign, Illinois. After training he was sent to Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. While at Sheppard Field, Ken took ill, with what the doctors thought was tuberculosis. Ken has often said he thought he only had a bad chest cold and pleurisy. Ken was hospitalized at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for four months, from August 1941 till December 1941. He was then sent to a tuberculosis recovery center near Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 1942 till August 1942. From there he returned to Kans., where he enrolled in McPherson College. He attended college from the fall of 1942 till the spring of 1943.
His next move was to Fort Worth, Texas to seek employment in the line of work he would follow for the rest of his life, aircraft industry related. His livelihood has been associated with the aircraft industry as a Design Engineer Draftsman. He worked for Consolidated - Vultee Aircraft Corporation, it is now known as General Dynamics Corporation. He was at Fort Worth, Texas from the spring of 1943 till the fall of 1944.
Kenneth next goes to California. Ken has worked for various Aircraft companies over the years, some that come to mind are Howard Hughes, Douglas, Boeing, Beechcraft, General Dynamics, Northrop, and Lockheed.
While working for Howard Hughes, Ken met Charlotte Trickle and they were married, May 26, 1945. Kenneth and Charlotte moved to McPherson, Kansas where they both enrolled in the Brethren College in the fall of 1945 and spring of 1946. McPherson College of the Brethren church in McPherson Kansas has much tradition for the Pitzer family. It was at McPherson College where Kenneth's Grandfather, John Riley Pitzer met his Grandmother, Annie Elizabeth (Bower) Pitzer. It was also where Kenneth's Father James Paul Pitzer was attending when he met his wife to be, Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer, while working for a farmer at Nickerson, Kansas. So, it is only natural that Ken would want to attend McPherson College with his new bride.
Ken and Charlotte returned to California, in 1946 where Ken continued to work in the Aircraft Industry. In January 1951, Ken moved again to Kansas, this time to Wichita, Kansas, where he was employed with the Aircraft industry of Wichita. They only lived in Kansas for a couple of years and returned to southern California, in the Los Angles area June 1953.
Ken invented and patented an adjustable bushing after returning to California. With his invention he formed a partnership with another fellow and they went into the design and manufacturing of Adjustable Bushings. From the success of this business, Kenneth sold his share in 1976, and went back to being an employee again. He took employment with Shur-Lok Corp. of Irvine, Calif., where he retired as of May 1991. He now does consulting and writing of technical documents.
From the marriage of Ken and Charlotte three boys were born. Edward William Pitzer, born April 22, 1948, at Culver City, Calif., Kenneth Harold Pitzer, Jr., born June 09, 1950, at Culver City, California, and James Michael Pitzer, born April 20, 1954, at Wichita, Kansas.
(Written by Phillip H. Pitzer, 10/24/91, with K.H. Pitzer's help.)
(a little clean-up 9/22/2022 dlg)
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