Obituary of W. ALLEN WENTZ JR. The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) - December 10, 1995 The Rev. W. Allen Wentz Jr., 70, of 23374 Delaware Road, died Dec. 8, 1995. Rev. Wentz was born in Rockingham, N.C., and was the son of the late Walter A. Sr. and Carolyn Hillbrath Wentz. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific theater. He was a graduate of Elon College and the Duke University Divinity School. Rev. Wentz was a member of the Hunterdale Ruritan Club. Rev. Wentz had retired as a United Methodist Church minister after 40 years of service with the North Carolina Annual Conference. He pastored at South Camden, 1952; Belhaven, 1954; Wrightsboro, 1958; Wendell, 1961; Leasburg-Salem, 1967; Murfreesboro, 1971; Fuquay-Varina, 1976; coordinator of the children ministries and camping on the conference staff, 1980; Raleigh Trinity, 1984; and Mount Gilhead First, 1989. He retired in 1992 and moved to Franklin where he continued to be a supply pastor for churches in North Carolina and Virginia. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Joyner Wentz; a daughter, Verna Carol Wentz of Raleigh, N.C.; two sons, Matthew Allen Wentz of Cary, N.C., and Douglas Karl Wentz of Raleigh; two sisters, Virginia W. West of Rockingham, N.C., and Elizabeth W. McDougald of Hamilton, Ala.; a brother, Henry H. Wentz of Raleigh. Rev. Wentz was predeceased by a sister, Josephine W. Estes. Other survivors include two grandchildren, Jenny Hair of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Richard Hair of Cary. The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in the Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Charles Hutchinson, the Rev. Dr. Bill Presnell, and the Rev. Margaret Saunders. The burial will be in Poplar Spring Cemetery, Franklin. The family will receive friends at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, from 7 to 8 p.m. today and request that memorials be made to the Commission of Outdoor and Camping Ministries of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 10955, Raleigh, N.C. 27605. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 1995, in the Trinity United Methodist Church, Raleigh. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: B7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– The Rev. W. Allen Wentz Jr. of Franklin, a retired United Methodist minister and World War II Navy veteran, died 8 Dec 1995 at age 70. Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Monday at Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, led by the Rev. Charles Hutchinson, the Rev. Dr. Bill Presnell, and the Rev. Margaret Saunders. Burial took place at Poplar Spring Cemetery, Franklin, with a memorial service 16 Dec 1995 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Raleigh. ––– Transcript ––– W. ALLEN WENTZ JR. The Rev. W. Allen Wentz Jr., 70, of 23374 Delaware Road, died 8 Dec 1995. Rev. Wentz was born in Rockingham, N.C., and was the son of the late Walter A. Sr. and Carolyn Hillbrath Wentz. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific theater. He was a graduate of Elon College and the Duke University Divinity School. Rev. Wentz was a member of the Hunterdale Ruritan Club. Rev. Wentz had retired as a United Methodist Church minister after 40 years of service with the North Carolina Annual Conference. He pastored at South Camden, 1952; Belhaven, 1954; Wrightsboro, 1958; Wendell, 1961; Leasburg-Salem, 1967; Murfreesboro, 1971; Fuquay-Varina, 1976; coordinator of the children ministries and camping on the conference staff, 1980; Raleigh Trinity, 1984; and Mount Gilhead First, 1989. He retired in 1992 and moved to Franklin where he continued to be a supply pastor for churches in North Carolina and Virginia. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Joyner Wentz; a daughter, Verna Carol Wentz of Raleigh, N.C.; two sons, Matthew Allen Wentz of Cary, N.C., and Douglas Karl Wentz of Raleigh; two sisters, Virginia W. West of Rockingham, N.C., and Elizabeth W. McDougald of Hamilton, Ala.; a brother, Henry H. Wentz of Raleigh. Rev. Wentz was predeceased by a sister, Josephine W. Estes. Other survivors include two grandchildren, Jenny Hair of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Richard Hair of Cary. The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in the Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Charles Hutchinson, the Rev. Dr. Bill Presnell, and the Rev. Margaret Saunders. Burial was in Poplar Spring Cemetery, Franklin. The family received friends at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday and requested memorials be made to the Commission of Outdoor and Camping Ministries of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Raleigh, N.C. A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, 16 Dec 1995, in Trinity United Methodist Church, Raleigh. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |------------------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Name | Rev. W. Allen Wentz Jr. | | Age | 70 years | | Birth | 1925 (estimated); Rockingham, North Carolina | | Death | 8 Dec 1995; Franklin, Virginia | |------------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Rev. W. Allen Wentz Jr. | Decedent | Franklin, Virginia | | Shirley Joyner Wentz | Wife | Franklin, Virginia | | Verna Carol Wentz | Daughter | Raleigh, North Carolina | | Matthew Allen Wentz | Son | Cary, North Carolina | | Douglas Karl Wentz | Son | Raleigh, North Carolina | | Virginia W. West | Sister | Rockingham, North Carolina | | Elizabeth W. McDougald | Sister | Hamilton, Alabama | | Henry H. Wentz | Brother | Raleigh, North Carolina | | Josephine W. Estes | Sister (predeceased) | [Not stated] | | Jenny Hair | Granddaughter | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | | Richard Hair | Grandson | Cary, North Carolina | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |---------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | The Virginian-Pilot | | Date | 10 Dec 1995 | | Edition | FINAL | | Section | LOCAL | | Page | B7 | |---------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • United Methodist Church minister for 40 years • Navy veteran of World War II, Pacific theater • Graduate of Elon College • Graduate of Duke University Divinity School • Member of Hunterdale Ruritan Club • Served in North Carolina Annual Conference • Coordinator of children’s ministries and camping, 1980 • Retired 1992, continued as supply pastor [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. 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