A former director of the KY fruit processing co-operative, Mr Bolitho died at the age of 91 after a short illness.
Under the tutelage of his father and with a reputation for hard work, Mr Bolitho embraced agricultural innovations such as Tatura Trellis and micro-jet irrigation on the family's Undera property.
Kenneth Charles Bolitho was born in Hampton, Melbourne on April 18, 1929, to parents Charles and Rose Bolitho.
He was the first of the couple’s five children, with Marilyn, Trevor (dec), Barry and Laurence completing the family.
The family moved to Ringwood North in 1939 where Ken was educated and then worked at a timber mill.
Looking to get into fruit growing, the family moved to Kyabram in 1952 to an orchard.
Ken met Glennis at an engagement party in Kyabram in 1953; they were married in Kyabram in 1955 and went on to have four children — Jan, Helen, Stephen and Ian.
It was a union that lasted 65 years.
In 1958 the family purchased a farm property at Fidge Rd, Undera, in the name of TC Bolitho and Sons, and set up an extensive fruit orchard, predominantly growing peaches, pears and apricots for several decades and also purchased more land in Dougan Rd, Coomboona, where they grew apples and plums.
This orchard is now run by son Ian, with his sons, James and Will.
When Ken wasn’t working hard on his orchard, he loved fishing, clay target shooting, being a prankster, and caravanning with Glennis.
A cheeky practical joker, Ken returned from one fishing trip to outback NSW with a python in a hessian bag, which he occasionally produced to frighten visitors.
The Bolithos were innovators in terms of growing fruit, and theirs was one of the first orchards in the area to use trellis, and the family was also a trailblazer in terms of the use of drip technology to irrigate fruit trees.
Mr Bolitho semi-retired in the mid-1990s, although he continued to keep his hand in and help out on the orchard when needed.
In retirement, Ken and Glennis enjoyed camping, caravanning and travelling Australia, and also enjoyed returning home to Fidge Rd and sharing their adventures with their family.
Mr Bolitho was actively involved within the Undera community, particularly as a member of the Undera Recreation Reserve Committee and as president of the Undera Clay Target Shooting Club.
He also played an active role in a lower Goulburn flood levee action group.
In his later years Mr Bolitho was an active grandfather and great-grandfather and he cared for Glennis as she faced her own health battles.
Mrs Bolitho was able to attend the committal service.
Mr Bolitho died on Friday, September 4. A graveside service was held on September 8.
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