William Gallatin Kearns, Ph.D.

Dr. William Gallatin Kearns, Ph.D., 81, retired Marshall University Professor of Speech and Drama, died peacefully Monday, November 26, 2007 at his home in Huntington.  Funeral service will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday, December 1, 2007 at Beard Mortuary, Huntington with the Rev. Ed Hood officiating.  Burial will follow in Greenbottom Cemetery, Greenbottom, WV.  Bill was born April 26, 1926 in Huntington, a son of the late Otis Pearl and Susie Maud Crawford Kearns.  He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Fae Rymer and June Berry; one nephew, Lowell Berry, Jr.  He is survived by a niece, Rebecca Berry White of Nacogdoches, TX; one nephew, Scott Berry of Grand Coteau, LA; a number of cousins locally and outside the area, several close Marshall University teaching colleagues and friends.  He graduated from Huntington East High School in 1944 and matriculated to Marshall College, where he obtained his B.A. Degree in 1950.  He obtained an M.A. and Ph.D. Degree from Ohio University, Athens.  He joined the Speech and Drama Department as a Professor in 1956 where he remained employed until his retirement.  He was a member of the Emeritus Club, a society for retired MU professors; the Huntington Rose Society, the Harvest Club of First State Bank, the Golden Rule Sunday School class at Fourth Ave. United Methodist Church, a patron of both the Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, KY and the Marshall Artist Series, Huntington.  Bill loved gardening and was an avid fruit tree and rose gardener and entered his roses in the Huntington Show each year.  He also loved to travel to see plays and outdoor dramas and especially enjoyed traveling to New York during the New Years holiday to take in some Broadway shows.  Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2007 at the mortuary.  Memorial contributions may be made to Fourth Ave. United Methodist Church or to the Marshall University Foundation, Inc. for general scholarship purposes.

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