William C. Jennings, Jr.

William Charles (Bill) Jennings, 90, died Thursday, December 12, 2024, peacefully at home in Staunton, after battling ill health. 

Bill was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and the Rotary Club of Staunton in his retirement.

A native of Macedon, New York, Bill was born on April 6, 1934. 

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Marjorie, and his first wife, Elaine. He is also survived by his wife, Carol Marshall Jennings; his son, David (Dori) Jennings; his daughters, Katherine (Tony) Driscoll and Barb (Mike) Edwards; his stepson, Mark (Cindy) Hall; sixteen grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Bill graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in history, after which he entered the US Navy (1955-1959) as officer and pilot, flying an S2F from the aircraft carriers USS Tarawa and USS Lake Champlain while stationed in Rhode Island. 

At the U of R he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and played collegiate baseball (his favorite sport). 

After his peacetime service in the Navy, he returned to his hometown area, settling in Canandaigua, New York, to work for the family business, the Rochester Abstract Corporation, as president until retiring in 1995. Bill was well known in Canandaigua, being active in Rotary, church, singing, and acting in the local Y-show, and the local radio station – announcing for football and basketball, as well as hosting a bi-weekly jazz show - as well as supporting all the musical and sporting activities of his children. Summers fishing on Lake Ontario (NY) and Moosehead Lake (Maine) with extended family were always favorite diversions, as well as a weekend round of golf at the Canandaigua Country Club.

After retirement, Bill moved to Staunton. He continued being active in Rotary, loved a set of tennis, was a radio announcer for Valley League baseball, and enjoyed many of the Staunton arts and cultural events. Bill was an avid bird watcher and loved keeping them (and the occasional persistent squirrel) fed throughout the year. He loved the outdoors and nature and took advantage of the drives and walks around the Valley.

Bill was a kind, warmhearted, and generous husband, father and friend, who loved people and always had time for a chat and story. He was particularly fond of telling stories from his piloting days. Bill was deeply loved by all members of his family, extended family and friends and will be remembered by all with a smile and a chuckle.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton. A reception will follow in the church foyer. 

Memorial gifts in Bill’s honor can be made to Martha’s Meals on Wheels (PO Box 2354, Staunton VA).