Kenneth E Carlson

Born Jan 19, 1919 and died in his sleep, April 13, 2012. Ken was the eldest child to Martha Gunhild (Strollsee) and Carl Gunnar Carlson of Los Angeles in a little house that was soon to be the Shrine Auditorium Parking Lot.

He was a serious and intelligent boy who saved all of his allowance money. When old enough, he purchased a saxophone from a local pawn shop and played sax and clarinet for many decades. Graduating at 17, from Franklin High School, he went to work at Western Electric and stayed for 37 1/2 years with the exception of a stint in the Air Corps for a few years during WWII. He married Virginia Bell Simgen on Oct. 4th, 1940. He became a father exactly 2 years later, to Barbara Elaine. Joining the service in 1943, it was found that his feet were so flat; he had to be exempted from Boot Camp marching and instead rode in the truck. He was in the Signal Corp, and being a talented musician also formed a band to entertain the troops.

Receiving an honorable discharge in Feb, 14, 1946, he and Virginia built a house in La Crescenta, Calif. The next year, they bought property next door to Ken’s grandfather, Emil Karl Strollsee, who was a builder in Newport Beach. They built a 2 story apartment and it yielded extra rental income throughout their long marriage of over 70 years. The second daughter, Betty Jean was born July 26, 1948. Ken was quite an inventor and was constantly making improvements to everything he owned.

He and Virginia were active in the Baptist, then Presbyterian churches, where Ken frequently entertained with his many arrangements of hymns.

In the mid 70’s, he retired and they moved to Big Bear Lake, CA. where he became a Realtor for the Roundhouse. Ten years later they moved back to Costa Mesa and enjoyed life by the beach and the harbor where he almost always had a boat docked somewhere. They traveled to Canada and around the United states many times. Ken loved having grandchildren, Tobias Mitchell Frye, born in 1975 and Adam John, born in 1982. He stayed active golfing and with church activities until his early 90’s.

Services with Military Honors will be held April 23, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at Pacific View Mortuary, in Corona Del Mar, Ca.

949-644-2700.