Kenneth Edward Riley

Riley, Kenneth Edward – Age 90, died December 26, 2012 at Valle Verde Skilled Nursing Care Facility. He was born June 2, 1922 in Park Falls, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he earned his BA in Business Administration with an emphasis in Personnel Management and Insurance. At the age of 4 years he met his future wife, Donna Marie Aschenbrener, and after completing college they were happily married for 60 years.

He was in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean Conflict as a 1st Lieutenant, Platoon Leader and Company Commander.

A resident of Santa Barbara for almost 60 years, he retired in 1988 after a long career in the personnel and insurance fields. He worked at Santa Barbara Research Center (SBRC) from 1977-1988 as Manager of Human Resources. Prior to joining SBRC he was Personnel Director at Applied Magnetics Corp in Goleta, Manager of Industrial Relations at Optical Coating Laboratories in Santa Rosa, Director of Industrial Relations and Administration at EG&G in Goleta and in a variety of sales, management and personnel positions over a 12-year career with Sentry Insurance.

Friends and family knew him as a deeply religious and compassionate man who loved his family and those he came in contact with over the years. He loved music and golf and during his earlier years was often found singing with his wife and friends in the piano bars of Santa Barbara.

In his lifetime he was involved in a variety of civic activities, including the initial development of the Santa Barbara Zoo; a founder, president and board member of the Santa Barbara Human Resources Association; Santa Barbara council representative, National Human Resources Committee for the American Electronics Association and the Western Electronic Manufacturer’s Association; citizens advisory committee, Vocational Education of Handicapped Students; industrial committee chairman, Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce; board member, Santa Barbara Junior Chamber of Commerce; finance committee, Santa Barbara Mission Scout Council; and advisory board member, Santa Barbara Work Training Inc.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna Marie Riley and is survived by their five children: William Riley, Diane Riley, and Mary Hughes and her husband Kim Hughes, all of Goleta; Kevin Riley of Roseville, CA; Mark Riley of Centennial, CO and his wife Michelle and grandchildren Austin and Duncan Riley.

The Riley family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Maravilla Senior Living Community and Valle Verde Skilled Nursing Care Facility. Special gratitude is extended to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara (222 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101) where donations may be made in his memory in lieu of flowers.

Friends and family are welcome to attend a memorial service scheduled for January 19th at 10AM, St. Raphael’s Church, 5444 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara. Please contact Mary Hughes at 805-964-5800 with any questions.