Bernard Kinsey Kent

passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2013 at the age of 92. He was born and raised in Phoenix,finally leaving when drafted into the Army Air Force in 1942. After the war he attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating, he married the love of his life, Jean Alice Cook ofBelleville, Ontario, Canada. They settled in South Pasadena, where they raised their three children. Bern worked for 35 years as a structural engineer for the county of Los Angeles. Their loving memory will be cherished by their three children, 8 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and all whose lives they touched.

Bernard (pronounced with the accent on the first syllable) was born on August 7th, 1921, the third of five children born to Fred and Marcia Kent at the house built by his father near the corner of Monte Vista and 8th St. His father had built their house there because “he wasn’t going to raise his kids in the middle of the city”. He had two older brothers, Herbert and Fred junior, a younger sister Marcia Jane, and a younger brother Bill. Their father was a union carpenter, who died of appendicitis when Bernard was 4. After her husband’s death, Marcia worked hard to support the family as a janitor (at Emerson Elementary School on 7th Street and Palm), cook (at Boy Scout and church summer camps in and around Prescott), taking in laundry, and whatever other jobs she could find. The children went to work too as soon as they were able in order to help support the family. When he was in elementary school Bernard helped his mother by sweeping up and cleaning the chalk boards at Emerson School. Later he had other jobs, like upholstering in Mr. Muehlebach’s garage (Just east of McApline’s Drug Store) and selling papers and magazines for Fred Harvey. While selling magazines door to door, he sold one to the notorious Winnie Ruth Judd, who lived nearby. His brother Herbert worked as a delivery boy while Fred junior worked as a soda jerk and car hop for Mr. MacAlpine at his drug store and soda fountain around the corner on 7th Street.

Bernard attended Emerson Elementary School and Phoenix Union High School, located at 7th Street and van Buren, which was a two-mile walk from his house. He graduated from high school in 1940 then attended Phoenix Junior College, graduating in June of 1942. He and his brother Fred enjoyed taking apart and re-assembling cars. When a neighbor complained to their mother about the car parts scattered across the backyard, she replied “I’m raising boys, not grass”. They would use cars and bikes to tow themselves on surfboards through the canals. He broke his nose when he didn’t jump off fast enough when the board hit a culvert.

In 1942 a letter arrived stating that his “… friends and neighbors select you to serve your country …”. He went to the pre-induction physical thinking that he would not qualify based on the hole in his ear drum, flat feet, scoliosis, and 20-500 vision. He was inducted into the Army Air Force on September 24, 1942. After training he was assigned to the 390th Bombardier group with which he serviced engines for B-17 bombers at an air base in Framlingham England. When asked whether he worked on planes that didn’t return, he would simply reply “yes”. He was discharged on October 3, 1945 at the rank of sergeant.

After the war he moved to the Los Angeles area, where he attended the University of Southern California. With the help of the GI Bill and a job working in a record factory in South Pasadena, where he lived with his brother Fred, he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.

In the summer of 1948, he met Jean Alice Cook of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Jean had driven out with her family to visit her niece, whose husband was Bern’s friend. Jean returned to Belleville but they corresponded until Bern drove across the country for a visit with her shortly after finishing at USC in the June of 1949. He left California with $200, spent about half of that on a ring, and they were married in Belleville on July 30, 1949. For their honeymoon, they drove to Los Angeles in the car that he and Fred had assembled around the body of a 1932 Ford V-8 Coup. It had wooden blocks for shock absorbers and, as Jean often recalled, holes in the floor-boards through which you could see the road.

Bern and Jean settled in South Pasadena, California. There they raised three children: Aileen Louise, who currently lives with her husband, Bruce Erickson, here in Phoenix; Douglas Bernard, who lives with his wife, Claire Elliott, in Palo Alto, California; and Barbara Jean, who lives with her husband, Mark Ziegler, in Federal Way, Washington. Bernard and Jean have eight grandchildren: Lindsay Ziegler (Fernandes), Jonathan, and Joshua Ziegler; Karissa, Christopher (spouse Laura), and Daniel (spouse Stephanie) Erickson; and Nolan Kent and Lara Elliott. They have two great grandchildren: Darla and Dakota Fernandes.

After returning to the Los Angeles area, Bern began a career as a structural engineer for the county of Los Angeles. He started out checking plans but worked his way up to supervisory structural engineer by the time he retired in 1984. During his tenure he was involved in several revisions of the Uniform Building Code. He had a knack for resolving conflicts that developed as builders wanted to do what the building code would not allow. After retiring, he continued to serve as a plan checker for particularly complex projects, such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

After retiring, Bern and Jean purchased a motor home. They enjoyed using the motor home to travel to Belleville in the summer, to visit Bern’s mother until she passed away at age 99, and to visit their children and grandchildren.

Jean had been suffering with back problems and had numerous other medical issues. Bern had taken care of her for several years but her medical problems had become more than he could manage. After 65 years in the Los Angeles area, Bern and Jean’s children moved them to the Stratford in Phoenix to be near Aileen and her family. They were very happy at the Stratford. Jean passed away in October of 2012, leaving Bernard on his own for the first time in 63 years. Although he was deeply affected by the loss of his wife, he was happy and comfortable in the last year of his life.

Both Bernard and Jean were people of strong faith in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They had attended South Pasadena Methodist for the majority of their years in the Los Angeles area and remained in touch with the congregation even after their move to the Stratford. After moving to the Stratford they attended Sunday services at the Stratford until it became too difficult for them to attend. They also enjoyed the fellowship at the Erickson family’s church and became close friends with some members of that fellowship.

Bernard loved the Book of Nehemiah. He felt that Nehemiah, like himself, was an engineer. Both men were constrained to follow the plans that had been set out for them. Nehemiah petitioned a king requesting his favor in rebuilding a kingdom that had broken down and was suffering. Bernard petitioned the King of Kings requesting his favor in rebuilding his loving wife Jean, who had been broken and suffering as well. The loving care he bestowed on Jean was an inspiration to family and friends.

After Jean’s passing, Bern’s final project had been completed. In the year following Jean’s passing, his deep love for his life’s companion manifested itself daily in his words and deeds. His family and friends take comfort in knowing that he and Jean are re-united.

Bernard and Jean left a legacy of love, respect, a strong sense of responsibility, and compassion that serves as inspiration to all those whose lives they touched.