Kenneth Lyle Erb
Longtime Susanville resident, Kenneth Lyle Erb passed away at the age of 93 on March 27, 2015. Ken was born on June 19, 1921 in Albany Oregon. He was the first born of five children of Elmer and Jennie Erb. Ken attended schools in Albany, graduating from Albany High School in 1939. He was active in football, baseball and band. Upon graduation, Ken attended technical school to learn to be an airplane mechanic. He then went to work for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle Washington, building B-17 airplanes. He also obtained his pilot’s license. Ken served in the Army Air Corp during World War II, as an airplane mechanic working on P-38 planes. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent after four years of service.
Ken met the love of his life, Mildred “Jean” Hanson shortly after his discharge from the service, living in Albany, Oregon. They had two boys, Kim and David Erb. The family moved to Brookings, Oregon in 1955 and Ken worked in the Brookings Plywood Mill Cooperative as a shareholder. He also worked second and third jobs as an oil truck driver and worked in the lily fields. Ken coached little league baseball and served as a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1965, the family moved to Susanville, Ca. after Ken and Jean had bought the A&W Drive In. Their son Kim went into business with them and they eventually sold the business in 1987. Ken was active in the community including helping to form the Boosters Club for High School athletics, attending the First Baptist Church and later the Methodist Church.
Ken was very active in the Emerson Lake Golf Club (now Diamond Mountain Golf Club) and played until his mid-eighties. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge for over 70 years, in Oregon and in Susanville. Ken served as an elected Board Member for the original Lassen Municipal Utility District and served on the Susanville Planning Commission for 16 years. Ken and Jean were able to travel extensively in their retirement years.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Jennie Erb, his wife Jean Hanson Erb, two brothers, Richard Erb and Darrell “Sam” Erb and one sister, Betty McKee. He is survived by one sister, Donna Moen, his sons Kim Erb (Virginia) and David Erb (Susan), four grandchildren, Cyndy Martin (David), Julie Erb, Jamie Holt (Josh) and Ryan Erb (Jill), eight great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
The family is especially thankful to the staff of Eagle Lake Village for their wonderful care and compassion in caring for Ken the past few years. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at Walton’s Colonial Mortuary at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to B.P.O.E. (Elks) # 1487 in memory of Ken, C/O Kim Erb, 240 South Gay Street, Susanville, Ca. 96130 or C/O of David Erb, 416 Mulholland Drive, Ripon, Ca. 95366.
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