William K. Kenton, Jr.

William K. Kenton Jr., 59, died at his home in Nithsdale early Tuesday morning, after a long struggle with stroke-related injuries. Bill was born in Milford, June 9, 1948, along with his twin sister, Joanne Shirey, the children of William K. Sr. and Jean Calhoun Kenton. He graduated from Milford High School in 1966, and the University of Virginia in 1971. Bill spent his entire career in sales and management with his friend and employer, Thomas H. Draper, President of Draper Communications, Inc. Draper recruited Bill after college to manage WTHD radio station in Milford. Bill and Tom expanded the small local radio station into WAFL Country, a successful FM broadcast station based in Delaware. In 1980, Draper Communications, Inc. purchased WBOC-TV in Salisbury, where Bill served as General Manager and Vice President, retiring as President in 2002. Bill helped guide WBOC through the revolution in broadcasting spawned by digital communications and the era of computers. Today the station is fully digital and features high definition TV for its viewers. Most recently, Bill served as public relations director for the Milford Museum, Milford, where he was organizing a fundraising campaign to expand the Museum to a full-time schedule. He was an avid supporter of lacrosse as an interscholastic sport in Salisbury and DelMarVa, organizing several local leagues in the 1990s to introduce the sport to local residents. A waterfowl hunter since early youth, he was a member of Tall Pine and Bombay hunt clubs in Delaware as well as a board member for local Ducks Unlimited chapters. He was a charter member of the Wicomico Rotary Club in Salisbury. Bill is survived by his wife of 31 years, Phyllis V. Kenton; a daughter, Tiffany Buchanan of Arlington, Va.; two sons, William K. Kenton III of Arlington and Glenn Ellis Kenton, senior at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville; a grandson, Kenton Buchanan, two, living in Arlington; two brothers, Glenn C. Kenton Esq., of Wilmington, and David W. Kenton, of Milford; and a twin sister, Joanne Shirey, of Seaford. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Short Funeral Home of Delmar. Family and friends may call at Calvary United Methodist Church, S.E. Front Street, Milford, on Saturday between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. A funeral service will follow the viewing at 3 p.m. Interment will be private. Calvary Church women's group will provide a buffet luncheon following the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Peninsula Regional Medical Foundation Stroke Center, 100 East Carroll St., Salisbury, Md. 21801. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.

William K. Kenton, Jr.

June 9, 1948 - September 18, 2007