J. Keith Varney

J. Keith Varney, Ph.D., of Springdale, Ark., formerly a resident of Silver Lake, Ohio, passed away April 19, 2013. He was born Aug. 6, 1917, at Jewell, Kan., to George W.Varney and Minnie Chance Varney. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Robert, Howard, Halbert, and Richard, and one sister, Velma Varney Roberts, and a great-grandson, Theodore Benshoof. He attended a one-room elementary school south of Jewell and the Jewell Rural High School. He earned his BA from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan., and his MA and Ph.D from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. While attending graduate school, he served as a research assistant with the Nebraska School Administrators Association and the next year he was a part-time instructor on and off of the campus. In 1953, Dr. Varney was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the University School, at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. In 1958, he was the director of the KSU Cleveland Extension Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1961, he was appointed Assistant Dean of the College of Education. And in 1972, he left the administrative position to teach full time as Professor in the Department of Educational Administration. During this period, he served two years as chairman of the Department of Educational Administration and developed a curriculum for the preparation of administrators in higher education. Dr. Varney retired from Kent State University in 1984. After retirement, he became a licensed Realtor with his wife, Alice, and was appointed to serve on the administrative board of the Akron Area Board of Realtors. Dr. Varney served on numerous community boards and committees. From 1965-1971, he was on the Summit County Family Services Board of Directors and served as President for three years. He was an active member at The Church in Silver Lake and served on every committee associated with the church. His passion was classical music, opera and books, and attended numerous performances through the years, particularly the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and concerts at Stan Hywet Hall. Dr. Varney and his wife Alice, relocated to Springdale, Ark., in 1998, to be near his daughter Joan and her family. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Alice Fetrow Varney, daughters, Cheryl Herzfeld of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; and Joan Bader (Joe) of Springdale. His three grandchildren, Anna Herzfeld Benshoof, (Bruce), Baltimore, Md.; Scott Bader (Rene), Springdale and Tyara Bader Kelly (Robert), Jacksonville, Ala. And six great-grandchildren, Lauren Bader Johnson, (Simon), Lowell, Ark., Rachel Bader, Springdale, Ark., Brian Kelly and Samantha Kelly, Jacksonville, Ala., Nicholas and Zachary Benshoof of Baltimore, Md. And special niece, Jeanne Strang. He graced our lives with his presence and will be sorely missed by all those who loved him. Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. Burial will follow in the Bluff Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Church in Silver Lake, 2951 Kent Road, Silver Lake, Ohio 44224. To sign the guestbook online please visit www.siscofuneral.com.