Malvern Rabeneck

Malvern Henry “Red” Rabeneck, age 96, dual resident of Kansas City and Hollister, Missouri, passed away at his home in Kansas City on June 28, 2018.

Malvern was born near Almyra, Arkansas in a log cabin to Almond F. and Josephine Rabeneck on November 16, 1921. Malvern married Maylene Ratcliff on July 25, 1942 in Stuttgart, AR.  He attended Louisiana State University studying chemistry until the last semester of his senior year to join the military in WW2 and to get married.  While in college, Malvern earned his pilot’s license and instructor ratings.  Malvern taught pilots to fly in World War II.  He then went on to become a pilot for TWA, retiring with distinction in 1981 after 37 years.  He co-authored three books, “F. Kroeber Clock Co. Identification and Price Guide” and “Clock Identification and Price Guide” books 1 and 2 with Roy Erhardt.  Malvern was a member of the Pilot’s Union, the Pioneer Gun Club, the NRA and the High Standard Collectors’ Association as an honorary Life Member.

Throughout his life, Malvern possessed an insatiable curiosity, seeking knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.  He was an accomplished machinist; ham radio operator, author, computer builder, benchrest target shooter, hunter and fisherman (just to name a handful of his interests).  He had a sly sense of humor, claiming that the song, “Don’t Fence Me In” was he and Maylene’s love song.  He hated playing Chickenfoot Dominos but always played—albeit with complaint--when Maylene asked him to.  He was a wonderful storyteller, often regaling his family with tales of growing up in the Great Depression. Some of his favorite stories were how he met Maylene and when Malvern squired Maylene around the countryside on the handlebars of his motorized bike.

Malvern is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Maylene, eldest

son, Larry, his sister Pearl Spotts and Brother-in-Law G.B. “Bud” Spotts.

Malvern is survived by his son, Kenneth W. Rabeneck (Mickey), his son James A.

Rabeneck (Jessica), daughter-in-law Sharon Rabeneck, his grandchildren Starla West (Kendall), Christa Jones (Greg), Sandra King (Trevor), Kenneth A. Rabeneck, Kristen Purser, James Purser (Circe), Ali’Annah Rabeneck, Michael Rabeneck,  great grandchildren Chaila Gassman (Nick), Devin Haggett, Elijah West, Ardyn West, Eleanor Purser and great-great grandchildren Leah Gassman and Garet Gassman.