Ken Kolb, born Kenneth Lloyd Kolb, was the only child of Fred and Ella Kolb. Growing up, he attended Gresham High School in Oregon, where he graduated during World War II. With the war efforts in full swing, Ken joined the Navy, pursuing a career as a radar technician.
After the war, Ken utilized the G.I. Bill to further his education, enrolling in the University of California in the fall of 1947. It was during his time at university that he met his future wife, Emma Sanford, a nursing student and Theta Chi roommate. Their six-year courtship culminated in a lifelong marriage in 1952.
The newlyweds spent the next two summers working at the Smith Peak Fire Lookout in Plumas County, California, a scenic location that would hold a special place in Ken's heart for years to come. His early career in screenwriting began with Columbia Pictures, which hired him to write "The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad" in 1958.
As his writing career progressed, Ken found himself transitioning to television, a move that provided a stable income and allowed him to pursue his original ambition of becoming a novelist. His first novel, "Getting Straight," was published in 1967, followed by "The Couch Trip" in 1970 and "Night Crossing" in 1974. Two of his novels were adapted into films.
By this time, Ken and Emma had started a family, and they returned to Plumas County, where they raised their three children, Kevin, Lauren, and Kimrie, in a house on Long Valley Creek in Cromberg. The family would often travel together, exploring destinations such as Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Fiji.
As their children grew older, Ken and Emma continued to travel, this time often with friends, to South America, Australia, China, Russia, and the Canadian Rockies. Despite their many adventures, Ken always maintained a deep affection for Plumas County, which he considered the best place of all.
Ken's life was marked by gratitude and joy, as reflected in his obituary in the Plumas News. He felt blessed to have had a wonderful wife and soulmate in Emma, as well as three beautiful children and a peaceful home in the countryside. He was also thankful for the friendships that had nurtured his intellect and spirit, and he felt fortunate to have lived the life he had always wanted.
In the end, Ken passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
