Kenneth Charles Layne, BHS 1958
Ken Layne March 16, 1940 – May 6, 2021
Santa Cruz - Charles Kenneth (“Ken”) Layne, 81, passed away May 6 — relieved to have caught the opening races of one last NASCAR season.
Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 16, 1940, and came of age in Burbank, where he built hot rods, worked pit crews, and helped pen the lyrics to “Plastic Jesus” before graduating from USC and marrying Roseann Coonerty.
After a move to Los Altos in 1966, Ken cemented his career in the automotive engineering industry at Chek-Chart, Balco, Snap-On, and H.M. Gousha. He wrote several textbooks on automotive engine performance and rebuilt his beloved 1956 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck while raising two kids, playing in a bluegrass band called The Overcoat Charlies, and teaching night classes to young mechanics at De Anza College.
In retirement, Ken moved to Santa Cruz and migrated each winter to the Sinaloa village of El Quelite, where he wrote stories about life in rural Mexico and a book manuscript titled “It Was All Los Angeles Music.” Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Charles W. and Eleanor, and his wife, Roseann. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Geri Layne; his daughter and son-in-law, Anni and Jonathan Rodgers; and his two grandchildren, MacKinlay and Charlotte Rodgers; as well as the family and friends who will celebrate his life on October 10.
Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz, California, October 2021