Kenneth F. Haines, professor emeritus of foreign languages and English, passed away Friday, Jan. 22. During his 44 years of service, Professor Haines dedicated his life to teaching students at Potomac State College. He was also the recipient of many honors during his tenure and into his retirement including a Fulbright Fellowship, Outstanding Professor in 1992, the Distinguished Service Award in 1989 and 2017, and an honoree of the Whitmore-Gates Faculty Scholars Wall. A friend and former student honored him with a plaque that hangs in the PSC Science Hall. In May 2015, WVU conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his teaching career, his service and philanthropy to both WVU and Potomac State College.
Having attended Potomac State College as a student, he served as president, secretary and treasurer of the PSC Alumni Association. He was a member of the Ernest and Katharine Church Society. And in 1988, a group of his friends established the Kenneth Franklin Haines Scholarship to assure that he will always be remembered for his outstanding service.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, visitation and graveside services at the Fort Ashby Cemetery will be private for Professor Haines' close friends and family. A Celebration of Life will be held on the grounds of Potomac State College in late summer or early fall of 2021 with date, time and location to be announced. The Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements. Read here for his full obituary.