Rock Hill, South Carolina - Let me tell you about my father.
On Tuesday April 20, 2021, Les Racine passed away at the age of 75.
Les was born on November 11, 1945 in Montreal, Canada to Kenneth and Muriel Racine. He was raised in the Chicago area graduating from Antioch Community High school in 1963.
Les joined the Marine Corps becoming an American citizen when he was sworn in. He met his future wife, Alice Copeland of Rock Hill, South Carolina while being stationed in Cherry Point North Carolina. They were wed on September 25, 1965. A month later he was sent to Vietnam for two tours.
He settled in Rock Hill after being honorably discharged from the Marines.
Then I came along, his only child, Michael, born in 1967 at York General Hospital.
He and his family moved from South Carolina to Florida in 1977. Years later returning to Rock Hill where my Mother and Father's love began.
His beloved wife, my mother Alice, passed away in 2017
After the military he worked in insurance, sales at a local radio station and as a technician at Celanese.
He returned to the military serving in the Army and the Air Force. He retired from the Air Force, as a Chief Master Sergeant.
During his lengthy dedicated service to the country he served in the Dominican Republican Uprising, two tours in Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
He enjoyed organic gardening, writing poetry (which is a family tradition that he gladly aligned himself with ancestor Jean Racine famous French poet and playwright in King Louis XIV's court.) He also provided a refuge for family members and friends who needed a safe supportive place to just be and heal.
He served the Church tirelessly in men's ministries, children and youth ministries as well as many other missions as well as outreach and support ministries.
Les was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth, his mother, Muriel, and his wife of 52 years, Alice.
He is survived by his brothers, Ken and Gary and his sister Gayle and his son Michael with daughter in law Nicole and their children Izzy and Earle.
My father taught me the love of nature, devotion to God and family, to never judge anyone based on their race or creed. He valued creativity, individualism, service and respect for everyone as we are all God's children and the redemptive power of compassion. He also was a mountain of fatherly wisdom that I and my cousins all picked up from him day by day.
We will all miss him very much.
"I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom."
Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum
On Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 AM there will be a grave side service at Forest Hills cemetery. followed by a celebration of life at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Mr. Racine's name to, Glencairn Gardens at