Renick C. Williams

Renick Cunningham Williams, age 90 of Moorefield, WV passed away June 11, 2025, with his family at his side. Born on December 7, 1934, in Moorefield, WV, he was the late son of Machir Inskeep Williams and Margaret Ann (Hyde) Williams. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers George Williams of Cumberland, MD, and Paul Williams of Moorefield, WV, and his father & mother-in-law, John and Rose (Fretwell) Pancake of Romney, WV.

After graduating from Moorefield High School, he attended the University of Maryland earning a BS in Agriculture Business. He was a member of the Lambda Chi fraternity. He was enlisted to serve in the Korean War, participating in basic training before the war ended. He served with Army National Guard for seven years.

Renick purchased, in 1961, his first farm in Tannery, WV. He married Elizabeth Jeanne “Betty” Pancake in 1963 at the Romney Presbyterian Church. In 1964, they lived in Richmond while Renick worked in the banking industry and Betty taught school. They returned after purchasing the Fisher farm in Durgon, WV where he operated a dairy. In 1970 they moved to the Fort Pleasant farm in Old Fields, WV.

Over the years he operated farms in Hardy, Hampshire, Grant and Mineral Counties, growing corn, soybeans, and various grains, and raising cattle, hogs and broiler chickens. He received an honorary State FFA degree in 1991. In 2015 he was selected by the Hardy County Chamber of Commerce as the Business Person of the Year.

A natural entrepreneur he was always thinking about the future and what the community needed. He built and operated the South Branch business - Moorefield Inn, Romney Inn, Cinema 6 theater, Potomac Lanes, Ponderosa, and White Barn Farm Market between 1993-2003. Over the years he operated Fort Pleasant Farms and the Pancake Chevrolet Motor Company. Encouraged by his brother Paul, he became involved with the real estate business. Through real estate and banking, he enjoyed helping people buy their first home, piece of land, car or open a new business.

Renick served as a member of the board of directors of the South Branch Valley National Bank from 1967-1997; during this time, he served as chairman of the board and president of the bank. He was a member of the WV Bankers Association, the First United Bank advisory board, the WV Cattleman’s Association, and the WV Farm Bureau. He served as a president of the Hardy County Farm Service Cooperative and with the Rural Development Authority Board.

As a dedicated lifelong member of the Moorefield Presbyterian Church, he served as deacon from 1964-67, and as a ruling elder for multiple terms between 1970-1995.

Renick was a tireless worker who could climb a mountain at the age of 70 faster than most young men. He enjoyed collecting coins, antiques, arrowheads, playing bridge, family gatherings, his grandchildren and eating apple pie and ice cream. He was always interested in local history and genealogy, and he was an active supporter of Hardy County Heritage Weekend and historical home tours. Favorite family memories are hearing him call cattle and salt cattle, picking blackberries, raising steers for the fair, cutting Christmas trees, and driving a beat-up Chevrolet truck.

Surviving is his caring wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Jeanne (Betty) Pancake Williams; and his children Margaret (Chris) Miltenberger of Fort Ashby, WV, Samuel Inskeep (Kelly Sloan) Williams, Robert Renick (Micheline Wise) Williams and Mary Elizabeth Williams (Jim Martin); a sister Sidney (Paul) Gooding of Campobello, SC; and a brother Edward (Patricia) Williams of Moorefield, WV.

A great joy to him were his grandchildren Paul Renick Miltenberger, Katie Rose Miltenberger, Austin Renick Williams (Emily), Sloan Inskeep Williams, Thomas Cunningham Williams, Amber Rose McCormick Williams, James Renick Williams, Elizabeth Marlaine Williams, and Geoffrey Samuel Williams.

Also surviving are two sisters-in-law Kay Williams of West Chester, OH, and Margy Newton of Moorefield, and many special nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 PM Sunday, June 15, 2025, at the Fraley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Washington Street, Moorefield. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 16 at the Moorefield Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jim Yao, officiant. Family and friends are invited to a reception in the fellowship hall following the interment at Olivet Cemetery.

Memorials in Renick’s honor may be made to the Moorefield Presbyterian Church or the Hardy County Community Foundation for the RCW Entrepreneurship Fund for community grants, PO Box 664, Moorefield, WV 26836.

To offer condolences, share memories, or upload photos in honor of Renick, visit the Tribute Wall at www.fraleyfuneralhome.com. He was strong and very active until being afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease and is now free of physical limitations and at peace with the Lord.

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