Kenneth Lay

KENNETH W. LAY, RETIRED GE RESEARCH LAB SCIENTIST

Kenneth W. Lay, 85, passed away at Ellis Hospital on Wednesday, May 23, 2024, following a brief illness.  The son of Wilbur and Madelyn (nee Keplinger) Lay, Kenneth was born at home in Middle Fork Township, Ringgold County, IA.  The eldest of five children, he attended a country school from kindergarten through eighth grade during a time when neither the schools nor the farms had electricity or indoor plumbing. Following WWII, the Rural Electrification Act ended all that.  Kenneth attended Mt. Ayr High School in Mount Ayr, IA, graduating in 1957 in a class of 57 students. In his senior year, “Kenny Lay” was president of the class; the attribution for him in the annual yearbook was “Friend to all; enemy to none.” That attitude of friendliness, empathy, and congeniality was true of him throughout his long life.

Kenneth received his B.S. in Chemistry from Iowa State University in 1961 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science from Northwest University in 1965.  When he was trying to decide where to go to graduate school for Materials Science, he had four choices.  Case Western Reserve didn’t offer him any money.  RPI offered him money, but Ken didn’t really want to go as far afield from the Midwest as Troy, NY – which is rather ironic, since he ultimately ended up in Schenectady.  The other two offering stipends were Purdue and Northwestern.  Ken was leaning toward Purdue because they were offering a bit more money, but a friend told him, “You don’t want to go to Purdue. It’s just like Iowa State – six guys for every girl. You want to go to Northwestern. It’s got lots of girls, and some are even rich. Ken naturally picked Northwestern.

While at Northwestern he met undergraduate sophomore Anita Rollins on a blind date for a sorority dance. They were married in Howes Chapel on the grounds of the Asbury Institute at Northwestern University on March 21st, 1964.  On March 21st, 2024, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  After Ken defended his Ph.D., he and Anita and their 6-week-old son left their native Midwest for Schenectady, NY, where Kenneth took up his job with the Research Center. It was very exciting to be among so many talented scientists.  Ken worked with GE Lighting in Cleveland on LED lights for which he received an award.  He also worked on coatings for ships’ turbines and fuel for nuclear reactors.  The Lays intended to stay two years in the East and return to the Midwest. They ended up loving upstate New York and never went back.  They made many friends out here in the East. When you are away from your own family, you find family where you are.  Among the friends they made were four couples with whom they traveled all over the world. Their children became cousins to each other.  It was an incredibly sweet life, and his family rejoices that Ken was only ill for a short period of time.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Madelyn Lay, and three of his five siblings:  Robert Lay, Paul Lay and Linda Lay Landis, plus his brother-in-law Ronnie Landis; cousins Marvin, Larry and Charlene Pratt, and Gary Keplinger.  It was a glorious period of his life growing up with all of them. His paternal cousins, David Lay of MD and Steven Lay of TN, were only seen occasionally, but it was always a pleasure to be with them together with his Uncle Clark Lay and Aunt Florence.

Ken is survived by Anita, his wife of 60 years; son Douglas (Anne Albinak) of Baltimore, MD; daughter Marla Lay Vaughn (Chris) of Sunnyvale, CA; daughter Kathleen Lay (John Maloney) of Clifton Park, NY; granddaughters Cailyn Vaughn of Sunnyvale, CA, and Natalie and Nicole Maloney, both of Clifton Park NY; sister Mary Lay Stephenson (Roger) of Platte City, MO; cousin Judy (Ernie) Mercer of Kellerton, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Ken’s hobby was restoring 1930s Essex Terraplanes, plus he owned a 1940s era funeral limousine which he and Anita drove to car meets.  Ken also played guitar and banjo, and for a time, he and Anita did western-style square dancing. He was very involved in his children’s activities. He belonged successively to Indian Guides, and Indian Princesses, which were YMCA-affiliated camping groups. He climbed Buck Mountain in the lower Adirondacks seven times with the Guides/Princesses. and additionally in his 70s during a family reunion one summer. He got up the mountain just fine, but the downward trek hurt his knees and cost him his toenails.  A suggestion that he make the trek again in his 80s was met with incredulity. No way.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to the experienced and empathetic staff of the Ellis C-wing, staff of the Ellis ICU, and the incredible cardiothoracic team which fought so valiantly to save him.

A celebration of Kenneth’s life will be held at Bond Funeral Home, 1614 Guilderland Avenue, Schenectady on June 2, 2024, from 1-2PM followed by a memorial service at 2PM.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in Ken's memory to Toys for Tots https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/futhersearchsustainer?&ms=FD_GS_FR_FY23_Brand_Sustainer&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNuyBhCuARIsANJqL9Ni6zNedtDqQJ6jVsose3KbSISbP0ZHVm9QXZ9FB-tQZuNUj1HfhGgaAhgSEALw_wcB