Dr. Mack H. Gillenwater, 83, of Huntington, WV passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2017. He was the beloved son of the late John Bernard and Bertha Angle Gillenwater. Mack was also preceded in death by his sister, Mabel Louise Lambert, and his son, John Mark Gillenwater. He is survived by his wife, Linda, step-daughters, Lisa (Chris) Seaman, Tamara (Sean) Fugate, and his grandchildren, Sean, Emma, William (that he never ceased to call “the baby”), and Noah.
Mack completed his Master’s Degree at Marshall University and his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Tennessee, joining the Marshall faculty in 1968. He was the Emeritus Professor of Geography from 1995-1996 with the John Deaver Drinko Academy and participated in faculty exchange programs in Madrid, Spain and Beijing, China.  He was instrumental in the establishment of the Coalways and Coal Mining Heritage projects designed to determine the feasibility of protecting and preserving significant cultural and historic sites associated with the coal mining heritage of southern West Virginia. He also coordinated a comprehensive study of historic preservation and tourism in the Greater Huntington Metropolitan area including Ashland, Kentucky and Ironton, Ohio. Additionally, he completed 10 historic preservation surveys for the West Virginia Department of Culture and History. He served on the board with the National Coal Heritage Association. His love for West Virginia and the coal industry never wavered as he aggressively studied the changes befalling the two.   However, as much as he loved his studies, his love for Jesus Christ and his church family at Christ Temple Church were where his anchor held fast. He served as the Hospital Visitation Minister for many years and loved visiting and praying for those in need. A special thank you to Hospice of Huntington for the tremendous help given by their compassionate team to him. In lieu of flowers, his desire was for you to consider a donation to Hospice of Huntington so they can continue their mission of helping many more that are suffering.  Funeral services honoring Mack's life will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Henson & Kitchen Mortuary, East Pea Ridge Rd. Huntington, W.Va. near Barboursville with Pastor Chuck Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Huntington, W.Va. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Henson & Kitchen Mortuary.