William Bill O. Rentz

Captain William O. Rentz, U. S. Navy, was born December 10, 1932 in Milledgeville, Georgia. Following one and one half years of enlisted service in the Naval Air Reserve and one year at Georgia Tech, Captain Rentz entered the U. S. Naval Academy, and was commissioned an Ensign in 1955. His first assignment was with the USS ROWE (DD-564) as Damage Control Assistant and then Engineer Officer. This was followed by tours as Executive Officer of USS DASH (MSO-428); selection for nuclear propulsion training; plankowner on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65), including service during the 1962 Cuban crisis; as an instructor at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho Falls; as Executive Officer of USS WALLER (DD-466); in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as staff assistant for atomic energy; and at OPNAV for atomic energy matters and later for the CNO’s Research and Development Priority Analysis Group. In May 1972, he reported as Executive Officer of USS BAINBRIDGE (CGN-25), making deployments to Southeast Asia/Vietnam and the Indian Ocean. In June 1974, Captain Rentz assumed command of USS GOLDSBOROUGH (DDG-20). After selection for promotion to Captain in September 1975, he served as Commanding Officer of USS CALIFORNIA (CGN-36) from February 1976 through June 1979 which included two SIXTH Fleet deployments. After his tour on the CALIFORNIA, he was assigned to the Naval Sea Systems Command as Assistant Director of Surface Combatant Ships. He reported to Commander Carrier Group FOUR on 15 May 1981 as Chief of Staff, and embarked the USS KENNEDY (CVA-61), the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), the USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70), and the USS CORAL SEA (CV-43). Captain Rentz studied Management at George Washington University during his first Pentagon tour and attended the MIT Sloan School of Management Senior Executive Program in 1980. His decorations include three Legions of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, and two Battle Efficiency Ribbons. He is also entitled to wear the Navy and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, the Navy Occupation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Sea Service/Deployment Ribbon. He is the recipient of the Navy League’s Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Excellence for the year 1979. Captain Rentz is married to the former Dr. Susan Spraberry Rentz, retired Superintendent of Schools. He has two children, Cynthia (Lou) Rader and Craig (Wynn) Rentz; grandchildren, Kylee Rader, Logan Rader, Kendra Rentz, and Nolan Rentz. He is also survived by his sister, Jeanie Schoelles of Atlanta, GA. A funeral service for Captain William O. Rentz will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2016 beginning 11:00 AM at Harvest Point United Methodist Church in Locust Grove, GA with Rev. Dr. Steven Usry and Rev. Dr. Douglas Gilreath officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association for the purpose of the Cyber Warfare Center.