William C. Berentz, 77, formerly of Marietta, died of complications from surgery on Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was born in New Matamoras, Ohio on January 24, 1939 to the late George William and Mary Unger Berentz. He is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, Jerrie Oyster Berentz, his daughter, Christy Holter, and her husband, Ryan; his nieces, Linda Soliday, of Charleston, WV, Cheryl Wellman (Denny) of Shadyside, OH, and nephew, Darryl Soliday, of Marietta, OH; his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Bonnie and Dick Miller of Marietta and Clyde Oyster of Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in New Matamoras, Ohio and loved to tell stories of his happy childhood there. He graduated from Matamoras High School in 1957. He attended Ohio University and graduated in 1961 with a B.S. degree in education. He later completed an M. Ed. degree from Ohio University. He began his career as a social studies and biology teacher in Barnesville, Ohio. In 1963 he began teaching at Marietta High School and continued teaching there until his retirement in 1990. He then became an adjunct instructor at Washington State Community College. During his retirement, he and Jerrie enjoyed exploring and living in other places, first, Bristol Village Retirement Community in Waverly, Ohio, where he was active in the discussion and foreign policy groups and made lifelong friends. Then in 2004 they moved westward to live nearer to their daughter. They lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, Rohnert Park, CA and Camarillo, CA. They loved the awesomeness of the west, especially the gorgeous area of northern Arizona. Besides his family, the highlight of his life was his teaching career. He truly enjoyed his students and the subjects he taught. His classes were full of discussion and laughter and he loved challenging his students to think critically. He was humbled to be recognized in many ways by his students. He also highly respected and enjoyed his fellow teachers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Beryl Soliday, and her daughter, Stephanie Earley. There will be a memorial service at 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2016, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Linda Steelman officiating. The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the narthex of the church. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Ohio University Foundation, 104 McGuffey Hall, Athens, OH 45701, or the Dorothy A. Oyster Advised Fund in care of the Marietta Community Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Marietta, OH 45750. The family requests that any correspondence be mailed to Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, 408 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750.