J. Kenneth Rentch 's Obituary
J. Kenneth Rentch, 94, of Florence, S.C. died on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, from a lengthy illness.
“Kenny” as he was known, was born on Sept. 28, 1917, in Martinsburg, WV. He was the son of the late George Lawrence and Rosa McDaniel Rentch, of 432 East Race St, Martinsburg, WV. He married Louise Spencer Taylor on Nov 16, 1942. She died January 26, 1994 in Florence, S.C.
Kenny graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1934, where he played football under John C. Cobourne; he attended Potomac State College-where he played football under Coach “Horse” Lough. He finished college at Concord State College, Athens, WV. His teaching career began at his alma mater, where he was tutored under Coach Cobourne. In 1946 Kenny moved to Shepherdstown, and finally teaching at South Hagerstown High School for a total of 39 years, retiring in 1979. During his tenure at Shepherdstown High School, he coached all sports for 25 years. He also was an official for football and basketball in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland for 30 years. In 1983, he was honored as the “Coach of the Year” for Region V of the West Virginia Coaches Association. He owned and operated “Kenny’s Cut Rate Store”, Main St., Shepherdstown, WV, 1950-1955. Along with William “Bill” Snyder, he developed one of Shepherdstown’s first new developments; Little Run Acres, which began the spring of 1954. He also worked at the Charles Town and Shenandoah Downs Race Tracks 1939-1962. In 1985 Kenny and his wife, Louise, moved to Florence, SC where he lived until December of 2012, when he moved to Annapolis, MD., for health reasons.
Kenny served in the US Navy, as a 1st Lt., for thirty-nine months during WWII aboard the U.S. Rodman and the Frank E. Evans in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. The Rodman was involved in the landings at Normandy on “D-Day”; the invasion of Southern France, and the battle of Okinawa.
Surviving are three sons; John K. Rentch, Jr., of Annapolis, MD., Dr. James S. Rentch, of Morgantown, WV., and Stephen B. Rentch, of Atlanta, GA. Seven grandchildren, 5 great grandsons and one great grand-daughter survive him. Three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death: Bruce Osbourn Rentch, of Arlington, VA. Margaret Roxana Beard, Donald Garwood Rentch, George Maxwell Rentch, Nell Louise Kilmer, all of Martinsburg, WV. and Catherine Glenville Shulfelt, of Hagerstown, MD.
Funeral plans are undetermined at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1201 Cherokee Road, Florence, S.C., 29501-4545.
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