Kenneth Robert Miller

Kenneth Robert Miller. A.K.A. Shakey O'Fart, passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at the age of 80, with his beloved wife Kit Lee at his side. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, to William and Huberta (Collard) Miller. He was the oldest of two children and the elder brother to his much-adored sister Norma Mercer. He is survived by his children Angela Rundles (Don Clowes), Rob Miller (Jeanine), Becky Eastman (Joel); grandchildren Caitlin, Sam, Jacob, and Kylie. Ken’s computer career began in the early ’60s working for General Electric in Pittsburgh, PA, then one year in Cincinnati, OH, before moving back to Pittsburgh. A story Ken shares of this time in Pittsburgh was the installation of a supercomputer that had to be loaded into GE’s skyscraper through the windows via a crane. The installation was interrupted by the assassination of JFK, in which the supercomputer was left hanging on the crane for several days as the nation was in mourning. One of Ken’s most cherished sports memories in Pittsburgh was being on a float during the 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl celebration parade – “Go Franco Go.” Ken began working for Honeywell, and in late 1975, he and his family were transferred to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he resided in Concord for over 20 years. The cross-country move was a life-changing experience for a southern boy from Kentucky. Ken’s career as a computer programmer allowed him to work at other companies at the forefront of computer technology, such as Ford Aerospace, Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, where he retired from the corporate world in 1992. While working in the banking industry, he helped develop the modern-day ATM and debit card computer programs. He was called into work on many Black Fridays because of systems crashing. Ken was active for years with the Mt. Diablo Boy Scout Council, Boy Scouts of America, serving as a Cub Scout leader (Cubmaster of the year in 1980), Assistant Scout Master for troop 262, and he sat on the Mt. Diablo Boy Scout Council. Ken enjoyed many hobbies, such as Bass tournament fishing, gemology, gold panning, and backpacking. He shared his love of reading classic mystery novels with his children, nieces, and nephews, some of whom followed in his footsteps for his love of reading. In the later years, Ken’s hobby was building detailed replica model planes such as the P-26 Peashooter. Ken was devoted to his three children’s activities during their growing years, from scouting to Indian princesses to swim team and various other sports, where Ken was always the parent to jump in and take on any job asked of him. In their adult life, he made it a point to have weekly check-ins to ensure they and their families were healthy and robust. In recent years, Ken enjoyed being a member of Richmond Rod and Gun Club and the Single Action Shooting Society. His SASS name, Shakey O'Fart, is where he relived his childhood daydreams of fighting off the “bad guys” with The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers. A memorial service will be held on September 14, 2022, at 11:00 am at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, 4100 Hilltop Drive, Richmond, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation is made in his name to the Golden Gate Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, or the Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa.

Kenneth Robert Miller

November 11, 1941 - September 7, 2022