Roy Kenneth Pitts, of Shafter, passed away June 12, 2010, after a 4 year struggle with cancer. Kenneth was born in Indiahoma, Oklahoma in 1928. He was married to Joyce Verniece Dirksen Pitts for what would have been 61 years this June 28. He came to California with his family as a young boy in 1937 and was active in the Shafter Seventh-day Adventist Church and Kern SDA School; first as a student and then as a church and school board member and school board chairman. Kenneth obtained his contractor's license in 1957 and started a small building contractor business. He built many homes, and did many remodel jobs in the Shafter, Wasco, Delano, Buttonwillow, and Bakersfield community. He was grateful for the many business friends he made throughout the years with other contractors, businesses, and clients. He enjoyed getting a pilot's license and flying as a young man, but turned his enthusiasm to owning horses. As a horseman he was part of the Wasco Roping Club in the 70's and took many enjoyable pack trips into the mountains with friends and his two sons. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Joyce, and three children: Dorothy, of Santa Rosa; Fred, of Shafter; and Rocky, of Shafter. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Mandy Pitts-Phippen and Jason Pitts, and three great grandchildren, Tabitha and Tyler Phippen and Willow Darlin Pitts, as well as Fred's wife, Pam, and Jason's wife, Brittany. He is also survived by his two sisters, Elsie Schneider, of Shafter; and Charlotte Brown of Nipomo. Viewing will be from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at Peter's Funeral Home in Shafter. Services will be held there on Wednesday, June 16, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Shafter Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Kern SDA Elementary School, 30105 Riverside, Shafter, CA, 93263; or to the Optimal Hospice Foundation in Bakersfield (661-716-8000) or donation form at: http://www.optimalcares.com/images/FormsDownload/donationform.2.7.pdf