1939
Roger
2015
Roger William Koonce
January 25, 1939 — July 7, 2015
Roger William "Rod" Koonce
Clemson, SC
Mr. Roger William "Rod" Koonce, 76, of Clemson, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Oconee Hospice of the Foothills, Cottingham House.
Roger was born on January 25, 1939 in Washington, D.C. to the late Arthur Harold and Esther Ray Koonce. He attended the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in 1957 where he met the love of his life, the former JoAnn Simmons, and was in the Theta Chi Fraternity. While at UNC, Roger worked for UNC-ETV in its' infancy and helped lay the foundation for what it is today. While in college, he loved to travel and produce ACC basketball games and golf tournaments for the C.D. Chesley Company. After leaving UNC, Roger attended and graduated from the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington, KY. He later became the Director of the Communications Department at UK, where he was a pioneer in distance education--linking students and professors via satellite classrooms. He was a member of Centenary Methodist Church, then a member of Beaumont Presbyterian church in Lexington, KY. 30 years ago, he relocated to Clemson to become the Director of the Communications Center, Instructional Resources and later retired. He enjoyed travel and retirement adventures with his wife and lived life to the fullest. Roger loved antiques and collectibles, reading and puzzles, art and telling jokes. Most importantly, he loved his family. He was a current member of Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson.
In addition to his loving wife, Roger is survived by a son; Jeffrey S. Koonce (Diana), of Lawrenceburg, KY; two daughters; Janice Lynne Austin of Shanghai, China and Julie Anne Morris (Lane), of Knoxville, TN.; and a sister; Carolyn Koenig (Allan), of Durham, NC; and seven grandchildren; Christopher Austin of New York City, NY; Asher Austin of Nashville, TN; Chad Morris of Knoxville, TN; Joseph Koonce of Lawrenceburg, KY; Lauren Koonce of Lexington, KY; Madison Cantrell of Raleigh, NC; and Samantha Cantrell of Friendsville, TN. Roger is also survived by two great-grandchildren; Brylee Jo McMillan of Tennessee, and James Maxwell Royse of Kentucky.
Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 11, 2015 in the Tartan Hall of Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson. The family will receive friends following the service at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, 101 Edgewood Avenue, Clemson, SC 29631; or to Oconee Hospice of the Foothills, Cottingham House, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com. Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central is assisting the family with arrangements.
Clemson, SC
Mr. Roger William "Rod" Koonce, 76, of Clemson, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Oconee Hospice of the Foothills, Cottingham House.
Roger was born on January 25, 1939 in Washington, D.C. to the late Arthur Harold and Esther Ray Koonce. He attended the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in 1957 where he met the love of his life, the former JoAnn Simmons, and was in the Theta Chi Fraternity. While at UNC, Roger worked for UNC-ETV in its' infancy and helped lay the foundation for what it is today. While in college, he loved to travel and produce ACC basketball games and golf tournaments for the C.D. Chesley Company. After leaving UNC, Roger attended and graduated from the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington, KY. He later became the Director of the Communications Department at UK, where he was a pioneer in distance education--linking students and professors via satellite classrooms. He was a member of Centenary Methodist Church, then a member of Beaumont Presbyterian church in Lexington, KY. 30 years ago, he relocated to Clemson to become the Director of the Communications Center, Instructional Resources and later retired. He enjoyed travel and retirement adventures with his wife and lived life to the fullest. Roger loved antiques and collectibles, reading and puzzles, art and telling jokes. Most importantly, he loved his family. He was a current member of Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson.
In addition to his loving wife, Roger is survived by a son; Jeffrey S. Koonce (Diana), of Lawrenceburg, KY; two daughters; Janice Lynne Austin of Shanghai, China and Julie Anne Morris (Lane), of Knoxville, TN.; and a sister; Carolyn Koenig (Allan), of Durham, NC; and seven grandchildren; Christopher Austin of New York City, NY; Asher Austin of Nashville, TN; Chad Morris of Knoxville, TN; Joseph Koonce of Lawrenceburg, KY; Lauren Koonce of Lexington, KY; Madison Cantrell of Raleigh, NC; and Samantha Cantrell of Friendsville, TN. Roger is also survived by two great-grandchildren; Brylee Jo McMillan of Tennessee, and James Maxwell Royse of Kentucky.
Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 11, 2015 in the Tartan Hall of Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson. The family will receive friends following the service at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, 101 Edgewood Avenue, Clemson, SC 29631; or to Oconee Hospice of the Foothills, Cottingham House, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com. Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central is assisting the family with arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roger William Koonce, please visit our flower store.
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