Obituary of Francis McKenna Jr.

Francis Raymond McKenna, 80, passed on December 29, 2014 at his home in State College, following a short contest with cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth M. McKenna. Born on the third of February, 1934 in Dennison, OH, son of the late Gertrude and Frank McKenna, he has resided in State College since 1967, when he began a successful career as a Professor of Education with The Pennsylvania State University. Frank and Ruth previously resided in Ann Arbor, MI., where Frank received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Education. He was personally involved in issues of social justice, and worked extensively with African American students and communities and with numerous Native American nations. Upon his retirement in 1994, he taught Northern Cheyenne and Crow eighth grade youth at The Northern Cheyenne Tribal School in Montana. Prof. McKenna was a distinguished world traveler, and received international academic and service honors from La Universidad Nacional Abierta, Caracas, Venezuela and The University of Khartoum, Sudan for his work in language policy in education, schooling in the rural periphery, and education for elite development. He is survived by his brother, Jim McKenna, as well as his three children, James Michael McKenna I, Katherine M. Hooper, and Leslie Rainelli; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.