Eugene McKenzie, 95
Earl Eugene McKenzie, 95, of Portsmouth, passed away Sunday, July 8, 2012, at Hillview Retirement Center in Portsmouth.
He was born in Scioto County on Oct. 9, 1916, to the late Earl and Margaret Fullerton McKenzie.
He graduated from the Valley Local School District, class of 1934, and Ohio University, class of 1938. He received his Master’s Degree from Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va. He started his teaching career at McDermott High School, was a math and chemistry teacher at Valley High School as well as their basketball coach. He was respected as a teacher and coach and has had many students keep in touch with him over the years.
He was drafted and served in the US Army at Ft. Lewis, Wash. until the end of World War II. He was a lifetime member of the Lucasville Post 363 of the American Legion.
He was selected for the Hall of Fame at Valley High School and was able to attend that recognition at the annual Valley Alumni Banquet in 2010. After leaving Valley Local Schools, he became the principal of Portsmouth West High School in 1962 and then in 1965 became Superintendant of that district for 19 years before retiring in 1984. Eugene was Scioto County Chairman of the Republican Party and was on the Board of Elections.
He started the Lucasville Little League along with Jim Parker and the late James Young. He was a former member of the Valley Township Fire Department. He worked with the late Gov. Rhodes, Vern Riffe to bring jobs to Scioto County, served on the board in Columbus that brought the WOSU Educational channel to Scioto County. He was president of the Scioto County Area Foundation for several years. He was also a member of the Lucasville Emmanuel United Methodist Church.
Eugene was preceded by his loving wife of 58 years, Janice Joan (Jones) McKenzie, March 19, 1997; and one brother Lloyd McKenzie.
He is survived by his son Ronald E. (Susan) McKenzie of Lucasville; one daughter Betty Joan (Clayton) Hare of Gahanna; one sister Mary Ellen (John) Miller of Lucasville; five grandchildren; Jeff (Michelle) Gleim of Pittsburg, Pa., Keri (Jerry) Chellini of Dublin, Seth (Kristi) McKenzie of Wheelersburg, Whitney (JJ) Sullinger of Worthington, and Scott Jenkins of Athens, Ga; two nieces Ellen (Terry) Shope of Lucasville and Carol (Bob) Daugherty of Geneva, Fla; nephew Terry (Pat) Williams of Lucasville; and very special friend Ann Hossman of Portsmouth.
Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, July 13, 2012, at the McKinley Funeral Home in Lucasville with Rev. Dick North officiating. Burial will follow in Lucasville Cemetery where graveside military rites will be performed by the William A. Baker and James Irwin Posts of the American Legion. Friends may call 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday and an hour before the funeral Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Alumni Scholarship Fund, c/o Pat Sullivan, 12 Linda Ave., Lucasville, Ohio 45648.
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