Kenneth Alan Walkey

FEBRUARY 15, 1931 – DECEMBER 17, 2022

Kenneth Alan Walkey, age 91, of Thousand Oaks, California passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022.

A funeral service for Kenneth will be held Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, California 91362. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the same location.

Kenneth Alan Walkey was born on February 15, 1931 in Burbank, CA to his parents George Jacob “Jake” and Gertrude Louise “Gert” Walkey.

Ken was known as “Al” in his younger years.

Always fascinated by cars, he purchased his first car (a 1926 Chevrolet touring sedan) and got it running at age 13.

He joined the Burbank Flywheelers Roadster Club in his later teenage years and also joined the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA)

Ken served in the US Navy from Aug 25, 1950 – Aug 25, 1955.

He ran the Navy’s machine shop and built cars in his down time to race the locals in the nearby abandoned air strip in Hawaii.

While stationed in Hawaii, he met a PanAm Stewardess, Bettylee Patsy Kerley.

They were married on Aug 25, 1956.

In their 49 years of marriage, they had “My Three Sons”, as Ken called them:

- Patrick Alan Walkey in April 1958

- Twins: Terence Kevin and Timothy Calvin Walkey in Jan 1961

Ken worked as a Disney Imagineer (engineer with an imagination) for 25 years.

Ken taught his three sons how to be creative, work on cars, and build stuff!

He always said, “If you can imagine it, you can build it.”

Ken turned his 2 car garage into a 4 car garage, where his imaginations became realities. He taught by example and was a “hands on” teacher to his three sons.

When the kids grew out of their swing set, he cut up the tubing and made the frame to his first Bonneville race car! The roar of the engine attracted all the neighborhood men to his garage, nightly.

Ken went on to build 3 Bonneville cars and various other fun cars.

He spent many weekends at El Mirage dry lake in CA, setting speed records.

Bonneville Salt Flats “Speed Week” in Utah was their family summer vacation for many years. Ken achieved his dream of getting onto the 200 and 300 MPH clubs.

In his down time, he enjoyed talking to people around the world on ham radios.

At age 79, he married Carol Ann Bidwell on Aug 30, 2010 in Las Vegas with his family.

Carol shared Ken’s passion for cars and football and were very happy together in their Thousand Oaks, CA home for his remaining 12 years.

Ken was a good husband, father and friend.

He will be fondly remembered by the many lives he touched over the last 91 years.

He leaves behind his wife, Carol Ann Bidwell,

3 sons: Patrick Alan Walkey, Terence Kevin Walkey, and Timothy Calvin Walkey.

8 grandchildren: Tamera Boyd, Kevin Walkey, Brooklyn Wyrd, Tyler Walkey, Sol Walkey, Seth Walkey, Breana Walkey, and Blake Walkey

7 great grandchildren: Inteus Boyd, Aydan Boyd, Zachary Rued-Harrington, Asa Wyrd and Ethan Walkey, Brett Walkey, Preston Walkey