Jul 31, 2023

Dencil Keith Backus of McDonald, beloved husband of Patricia Backus, died Saturday, July 22, 2023, after a long illness.

Born July 20, 1946, in Richwood, West Virginia, son of the late Blume Field and Macel Hughes Backus of Mount Nebo, West Virginia.

He is survived by sisters, Sherri Roop (Larry) and Myra (Stacey) Houser.

Father of Shane (Deeann) Backus and Shanita (Gary) Wine, and stepfather of Michele Rusen (Walt Auvil), Karen Rusen (Mychael Morohovich) and Laura Seidler (Brian).

Grandfather of Emily and Evan Backus; Reilee, Jaron, and Laini Wine; Kirk Auvil; Perry and Simon Rusen-Morohovich; Natalie (Dev) Kumar and Alexis (Tyler) Prather; and Carissa Massey (Jason Hartz).

Dencil married Pat on July 21, 1990. They celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary on July 21, 2023.

Dencil was referred to by his stepchildren and grandchildren as “Peepaw.” He enjoyed watching them grow and learn on the property he and Pat shared in the Pennsylvania countryside of Washington County.

Dencil retired from California University of Pennsylvania, Professor Emeritus, where he served as a tenured Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Studies. His decades as a college professor followed his start as a public-school teacher in Wood County, West Virginia.

Dencil had wide-ranging interests which he loved to share with family and friends. A voracious and perceptive reader, he and Pat particularly enjoyed their 20 years with friends in the “Book Worms” group. He also loved politics and was a life-long proud liberal and humanist.

Dencil loved theater and the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, was a favorite. Many happy journeys to “the Shaw” was one highlight of a life well lived.

At Dencil’s request, there will be no services. A private family interment will be arranged later.