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John Kenworthy Obituary

John "Jack" Gordon Kenworthy COLUMBIA - A funeral service for John "Jack" Gordon Kenworthy, 89, of Columbia will be held at 11am on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at the chapel of Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home & Cremation Service with internment at Greenlawn Memorial Park. There will be a Memorial Mass at 9am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Honor Flight Network at www.HonorFlight.org or the St. John Neumann Catholic Church building fund. Jack was born December 31, 1922 in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late John "Doc" Kenworthy and Martha Smith Kenworthy. He was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Jack began work at the age of 13 during the Great Depression by creating the first drive thru car wash in Wilkes-Barre, PA and later became a buyer of men's clothing at a local haberdashery. He attended Wharton School of Business before his studies were interrupted by WWII. He joined the United States Army Air Corps and fought in the China Burma India Theater. He received the Bronze Star for his efforts. After returning to the states he became a buyer at Burdines Department Store in Miami, FL, then relocated to Chicago, IL as a Senior Buyer and board member at Mandel Brothers Department Store. In 1949 he was offered the position as Station Manager at WMYB Radio Station in Myrtle Beach, SC and later WKTC in Charlotte, NC where he was responsible for creating the first Country and Western format in the Charlotte area. During his time at WMYB and WKTC he used his instinctive abilities to create highly successful promotions for the stations. As word of his success with promotions spread in the radio industry, he found himself selling his ideas to other radio stations across the country. This love of advertising and promotion led to the founding of John Kenworthy Enterprises, a promotional advertising company in 1958 that relocated to Columbia, SC in 1969, and later founded The Promotions Store and WOW! Promotions and Apparel. He was a proud member of the VFW and The American Legion Post #182. Survivors include his daughter Nancy (Charlie) Brokaw of Johns Creek, GA, son Gregory Kenworthy of Augusta, GA , grandchildren, Charlene (Tommy) Fowler of Lawrenceville, GA, Lisa (Josh) Chittick of Ansbach, Germany and Douglas Kenworthy of Columbia, great grandchildren, Ella Fowler, Hayden Chittick, Logan Kenworthy, Harrison Chittick, Charlie Fowler, numerous nieces and nephews and a very special lady, Marilyn Vacendak. Jack was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Marguerite Tice Kenworthy, sisters, Shirley Woolbert and Catherine Freeman and a granddaughter, Rebekah Anne Brokaw.

Published by The State on Dec. 12, 2012.
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You were the most amazing Dad and mentor. I will forever miss our serious conversations and playful banter that we exchanged. You were my best friend. I Love and Miss you Dad.
Your Son.

December 12, 2012

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