Kenneth Harvey

Ken Harvey, age 66, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, December 12, 2022, in Gonzalez County, Texas.  The youngest of four sons born to Louis Ray and Juanita Kirk Harvey, Ken was born on October 19, 1956 at Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas.  He was baptized, along with his brothers and father, at Concordia Lutheran Church on January 5, 1958, the very day the church was chartered, and attended Concordia and St. Andrew Lutheran, where he was confirmed as a teen.

Ken grew up in the Spring Branch area, graduating from Spring Woods High School in 1975. Easily the best athlete in the family and certainly the most popular, Ken was the least academically inclined.  With some assistance from his father – and none from his brothers – Ken used his evening hours to took rebuild the engine on an old car, which he succeeded in doing.

Given that mechanical inclination, all were surprised when he pursued a Zoology degree from Texas A&M University, where he graduated with top marks in 1979.

At the end of his freshman year, Ken married Katherine Hunt.  Together only a brief time, they divorced the following year.  Following the divorce, Ken zeroed in on academics, in which he now excelled, and part-time work to pay for his education, working at a lumber yard in Bryan.

Following graduation from A&M, Ken enrolled at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, where he obtained his DDS in 1983.

It was at Dental School that Ken met the love of his life, his soulmate and helpmate, Rebecca Maxwell.  Ken and Becky were married on December 18, 1982, in All Faiths Chapel at Texas A&M, where Becky’s father served on the faculty.  At Dental School, Becky was top of the class while Ken, though a good student, just wanted to graduate.  Both worked hard in their spare time to pay for school.

After practicing dentistry briefly in Houston, Ken and Becky bought a dental practice in Kilgore in Northeast Texas and practiced together for six years.  In 1990, they moved back to Houston and opened a family dental practice on Fairview, just east of Shephard, where Becky still practices.  Ken practiced there briefly before moving over to nearby Bering Dental Clinic, now Avenue 360, where he found the work more varied and challenging.

After 11 years practicing dentistry, Ken shifted to computer programming, which he had taught himself to support their dental practice.  In 1994, he formed KRH Computer Solutions, Inc, with a focus on Microsoft Access to SQL Server for mid-size clients.  He maintained the practice until his death, with some clients dating back to the beginning.

Ken and Becky were avid hobbyists – always passionate about at least one endeavor outside of work.  Initially, it was Ken’s asphalt-track motorcycle racing, where Ken would race on weekends with Becky and his parents serving as pit crew.  After moving to Houston, Ken and Becky shifted to offshore fishing on a range of vessels, culminating in a 50-foot, twin diesel they kept at Surfside.  Both of these hobbies reflected Ken’s incredible mechanical abilities and desire to keep things in tip top shape, coupled with their commitment to do things as a couple.

Ken and Becky’s most recent hobby was their purchase of land just west of Industry on Post Oak Point Road in Austin County.  A property with rolling hills and beautiful views, the property also came replete with projects for someone with Ken’s abilities.  Ken was able to operate his computer business from the country house, while Becky continued to split her time between Houston and Industry.  Together, they began making improvements to the land and structures.  Ken found himself applying the mechanical and electrical skills he already had and was learning a new set of skills on YouTube.  He was just beginning to explore animal husbandry.

Earlier this year, Ken and Becky moved their church membership to Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham.  Having been president of two Lutheran congregations, Ken planned to relax this time and simply enjoy the preaching and hymnody.  He was just getting settled into his new church home.

Ken is predeceased by his parents, his mother-in-law Katherine Maxwell, and his brother, Gary.  He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Becky Harvey; his father-in-law Fowden Maxwell (wife Ruth); his brothers Larry (April) and Bob (Vicki); Gary’s widow, Jill; and his brothers-in-law, Steve (Carmen) and Randy (Annette), and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 16, at Grace Lutheran Church at 1212 W. Jefferson in Brenham.