Kenneth H Rasco

Kenneth Hugh Rasco, 93, passed away Sept. 18, 2014, in Abilene, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at University Church of Christ on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m., conducted by Piersall-Benton Funeral Directors, with burial afterward at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Abilene. Visitation with the family will be 5-7 p.m. Friday at Piersall-Benton (733 Butternut, Abilene, Texas 79602).

Ken was born Jan. 23, 1921, in Tyler, Texas, and graduated from Tyler High School in 1939. He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving from 1942-44 as a left-waist gunner on a B-17 in World War II. He earned four Air Medals with four oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during his 35 missions over Germany and France.

He married Marianna Yarbrough on Jan. 1, 1954, in Fort Worth.

He graduated from Tyler Junior College with an Associate of Arts degree in English in 1941 and from Abilene Christian University in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He earned a Master of Arts degree in 1949 from Northwestern University and also did graduate studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder and DePauw University.

Ken joined the ACU faculty in 1949 as an instructor of English and in 1950 replaced Clara Bishop as the university’s registrar. He went on to become the longest-tenured registrar in ACU history (1950-1985), retiring in 1986 as assistant professor emeritus of English and registrar. He was active in the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

He served as a deacon at Abilene’s University Church of Christ, where he and Marianna have been longtime members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Berta Lou McGlathery Rasco; brothers Edwin Rasco and Alvin Mack McCary; and a sister, Ethlene Buffington. Among survivors are Dr. Marianna Rasco, his wife of 60 years; a daughter, Dr. Amy Coffey and her husband, Dr. Allen Coffey of Denton; a son, Kern Rasco and his wife, Christie, of Abilene; five grandchildren – Jeffrey Rasco and his wife, Morgan; Jennifer Rasco; Jason Rasco; Jesse Allen Coffey III; and Luke Coffey and his wife, Chelsy – and one great-grandchild; and a sister, Merle Holmes.

Memorials may be made to the Ken and Marianna Yarbrough Rasco Scholarship at ACU (Gift Records, ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132, acu.edu/giveonline).