The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Kenneth Armstrong Hartley, 90, of Orange, passed away Thursday, Jan. 9, at his home.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at First United Methodist Church in Orange, with the Rev. John Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. prior to the funeral service at the church.

Born in Morgantown, WV., on Aug. 30, 1923, Kenneth was the son of Samuel Melvin Hartley and Essie Belle (Armstrong) Hartley. After graduation from Morgantown High, Kenneth enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He served in England and France during WWII. After the war, he moved to Orange in 1946 to work at DuPont Sabine River Works where he was employed for 38 years.

In 1947, Kenneth married Betty Jo Grubbs. They had two daughters, Cindy Kay and Lindy Sue. Kenneth served as a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Orange. He was the Chairman of the Trustees and Head Usher for many years. Kenneth was also a member of the Orange Lions Club, Golden Kiwanis, and on the advisory board of the Salvation Army for 16 years. He played golf and served on the board of the Sunset Grove County Club. He was also a member of the V.F.W.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Betty Jo Hartley; two brothers; and six sisters.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Hartley of Orange; daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Lynden Rasch of Kingwood, Lindy and James Pitre of Hamshire; step children and their spouses, Anne and Boyd Edwards of Orange, Carl and Melissa Rasmussen of Canyon Lake and Macy and Don Jones of College Station.

Kenneth is also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew Rasch and wife Christy of Marseilles, France, Samuel Rasch and wife Thelma of Chicago, Il., and Adam Pitre of Hamshire; step-grandchildren, Katie Shahan and husband, Travis of Dallas, Beth Murray and husband, Sean of Frisco, Robert Edwards and wife, Elizabeth of El Paso, Will Rasmussen and wife, Leticia of San Antonio, Kaylin Booker and husband, Stephen of Sales, Australia, Derby Jones of College Station, and Paris Jones of College Station; and 13 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 502 N. 6th Street, Orange, Texas 77630; or the Salvation Army, 1950 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Orange, Texas 77630.