1998 - The California-Pacific Conference of The United

IN MEMORIAM
II'
A CELEBRATION of MINISTRY
California-Pacific Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
1998
HERMAN N. BEIMFOHR
May 28, 1902 - May 12, 1997
Beimfohr, Herman N. (T.23; F.27) Cen. 111.; SC, 32 July (Tempc); 36 Conf. Dir., Wesley
Found.; SCA 39; 52 Dir., Wesley Fdn. UCLA; 72 R'd; (72-73) Wesley Fd. UCLA; C-P 85
R'd.
Herman Nelson Beimfohr was born May 28, 1902
to Rebecca van Duesen Golden Beimfohr and William
Henry Beimfohr on the family farm located in Spring
Lake Township, Tazwell County, Illinois. He graduated
from Manual Training High School in Peoria, Illinois in
June, 1921 and went on to Bradley Polytechnic Institute
in Peoria. In his sophomore year at Bradley he started
serving Methodist churches (1922) as a student pastor
and continued to serve the Methodist Church up until his
retirement in 1974. He was married to his high school
sweetheart, Elsie Mae Wolf, June 10, 1924, who partnered with him in their many years of faithful service to
the Methodist Church. Finishing Bradley College in
1925, they went on to Garrett Theological School,
continuing to serve several churches in Illinois. In 1929,
after completing seminary, they traveled west to serve churches in Wilcox and Tempe, Arizona.
While at Tempe, Herman was asked to start work with students at Arizona State College, which
evolved into many years with the Wesley Foundation movement. In 1936 he was assigned as
Conference Director of Wesley Foundation, located at the new UC campus in Westwood
(UCLA). He remained at UCLA until his retirement in 1974.
During his many years at UCLA, Herman gave leadership to 25 Western regional
Leadership Training Conferences, about 20 Methodist Student Movement Conferences, over 80
student retreats and took many students to about 17 National Methodist Student Conferences
(1937-1964). He received his PhD from USC in 1954, focusing on leadership and group
dynamics. The expanse of Herman's and Elsie Mae's life reached out to many generations of
students with a deep faith rooted in a trust in God, nurtured by study and daily prayer, and
sustained by a long and loving relationship. This loving couple were ready for whatever each
new student generation brought them. They provided a creative and open hospitality to many
young people who faced many difficult obstacles to their lives, giving them the skills and faith
to move out into the world and to be leaders in their churches and communities.
Over the years since his retirement from UCLA Wesley Foundation, Herman maintained
contact with hundreds of alumni and regularly assisted at the Westwood United Methodist
Church. He pulled together several historical and personal reports of his and Elsie Mae's
ministry, including poems in their lives and published two books of Prayers for Young People.
In 1994 he was awarded the Francis Asbury Award by the Board of Higher Education and
Campus Ministry for his many years of service to the church. His passing, along with Elsie Mae
(1977) leaves a gap with many fond memories for thousands who have been touched by their
lives.
Allyn D. Axelton for the UCLA Wesley Foundation Alumni Association
W. STANLEY CREIGHTON
November 9, 1913 - February 22, 1998
CREIGHTON, W. STANLEY (T.37; F.41) SC, 37 School; SCA 39 Mesa, AZ.; 40 Blythe; 44
Reseda; 50 Pomona: Westmont; 53 Riverside: Arlington; 60 Barstow; 65 Oceanside: First; 68
Chatsworth; 70 Chino; PSW 77; 78 R'd.; C-P 85 R'd.
William Stanley Creighton was born in London,
Ontario, Canada, to William and Vietta Creighton. In
1921 they settled in Torrance, CA, where they became
charter members of a new Methodist Episcopal Church.
After graduating from Torrance High School he attended
Long Beach City College and worked at National Steel.
During those years he played the title role in "The
Unknown Soldier Speaks." The drama was presented at
a national student gathering in 1934. Stan did not return
to California but remained to attend North Central
College in Naperville, Illinois. Following graduation in
1936 he enrolled at Garrett Biblical Institute. He and
Lucille Mildred Beem were married on June 8,1939 and
journeyed to California to begin their ministry together.
Outdoor ministry was important to Stan. He was
dean of a junior high camp each summer for 25 years. While serving in Reseda he helped to
build the first road into Camp Colby. He led Arlington youth in clean-up following a fire at Lazy
W, directed Barstow youth in building a rock retaining wall at Wrightwood, but most memorable
was riding the pack mule into Camp Sturtevant due to a sprained ankle!
Stan was actively involved in each community where he served. The American Red Cross,
and many community outreach agencies benefitted from his presence. In Barstow he served on
the elementary school board and was its chair for a time.
Following retirement Stan was Minister of Visitation at the UMC of Vista for 15 years. He
retired for the second time in 1993, but continued to assist with Disciple Bible Study, lead
seasonal adult classes, and preach occasionally. His passion for learning never ceased and most
recently found books from the Jesus Seminar to be stimulating.
Stan cared deeply about family. During Lucille's six years in a care center, he spent part
of each day with her until her death in 1994. He made connections as often as possible with
daughters and sons-in-law, Ann and Tom Bateman of Philomath, Oregon and Lynn and John
Dokken of Newbury Park, California and his four grandchildren. He found particular pleasure
in worshiping with them and observing or hearing about their leadership in their respective
United Methodist churches in Oregon, California, Maryland, and Connecticut. Family and
friends will miss his groaner jokes, word plays, and theological insights.
Stan was called to proclaim the Gospel to a hurting world. He lived that call faithfully and
the world hurts a little less because of him.
Ann Creighton Bateman
Lynn Creighton Dokken
JEANNE E. EDICK
April 3, 1929 - September 20, 1997
EDICK, JEANNE E. (P.78; F.80) PSW 78 Oxnard: St. Paul's, Assoc.; 81 Fillmore, First; 82 Santa
Maria: Christ; 83 Orange: St. Paul's; 84 LB: Wesley; C-P 85; 87 Pomona: Philadelphia St.; 91
Pacific Palisades, Assoc.; 92 Imperial Beach; 93 R'd.
Jeanne Edick Hadley Tuttle was born in Santa Ana,
California She grew up in the "old" Costa Mesa church,
which was the only Protestant church in town. She was
the youngest of four children with deeply devout parents
and grandparents. She had a lifelong involvement with
the church. At the age of 16 she was called by God to
ordained ministry, although this was not to be for
several more years.
She attended the College of the Pacific in Stockton,
California to begin her training for full-time educational
ministry. She spoke often of the Youth Caravan
Program that was part of the Oregon-Idaho area in 1947.
For the next 10 years, she served as a counselor for the
MYF at church camps whenever she could and on
boards and commissions including the building committee for a newly organized Methodist Church in Modesto, Ca. All of this was as she met and
married Robert Russell Hadley and had 2 children, 1 of whom died as an infant.
Her husband was transferred to Oregon and she was able to graduate from COP with high
honors and then begin her career as Director of Christian Education at Eugene First Methodist.
She worked at different churches in Eugene and on many district programs. She continued her
education at the University of Oregon working toward a Masters Degree. During this time she
was also consulting with churches in Oregon and other western states regarding their Christian
Education programs.
In 1960-1961 she met and married Ben Howard Tuttle and Jeanne gained a whole new
grown family. During the '60's she continued in education and leadership development In 1968
she and Howard decided to move back to southern California. She worked as Director of
Christian Education at many churches. She became a Certified Consultant in lab schools, serving
in 8 states and on a national committee for labs and seminars for leadership training.
After her mother died and her marriage ended, she felt the comfort of the church being
a large part of her family. In 1976, after 3 serious infections and the death of her brother, the
call by God was again felt and so she decided that she must go back to school to continue her
education and become an ordained minister. She spent 2 years at Duke University and graduated
in 1978 and was ordained in Redlands that same year. She was very happy at being in the
ordained ministry and being appointed to a church that she could serve.
After retiring in this Conference, she returned to Oregon to a church that needed her special
kind of leadership and worked there until her health forced her to completely retire. Up to the
very end she was still studying and learning so that she could get back to active ministry.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynn and her three children; her daughter, Pat and her
children and grandchild; her daughter-in-law, Bobby and her children and grandchildren; a sister
and many nieces and nephews.
Lynn Hadley
JACK W. HEDGES
July 10, 1925 - December 5, 1997
HEDGES, JACK W. (T.50; F.52) N.East Ohio; SCA65 Waimanalo; 68 Hon.: Aldersgate; 72
Hon.: Palolo; 74 R'd; PSW 77; C-P 85 R'd.
Jack's last month in Hospice was not gloomy.
Family and friends visited and talked of bygone days.
Some of his memories include: being reared by his
parents and three older sisters in a log cabin (really) in
Tarlton, Ohio; graduating with six other students from
high school; working his way through Ohio State by
living in the dairy barn with seven other fellows who
shared the-three-times-a-day, 365 days a year milking
duties; riding motorcycles; buying and repairing old
clunker cars; flying solo in a single-engine airplane;
dating pretty girls from Wesley Foundation; studying
rural sociology under Rocky Smith at Garrett; being
shipwrecked in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on the
return trip from taking horses into Poland under the
Heifer International program (fortunately all the crew
were able to transfer via rope ladder and small boat to the ship that rammed them and continued
safely to New York City); constructing playgrounds in England for the American Friends Service
Committee; and hitchhiking through Europe. These were all adventures of his single days.
On September 9, 1951, he and Betty Jo Wright (a Garrett student) were married in
Broadway Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. His first four year appointment was in
Ohio, where three children were born: Jill, Jack Wright and Joe D. His second appointment was
to the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands under the National Board of Missions. He was the
first English-speaking Methodist minister on the island, serving three small churches along with
two Filipino pastors. The 30 years he lived and worked in Hawaii were an enriching experience
for all the family. Some of these memories are: celebrating Hawaii's statehood; participating in
the ceremony of Hawaii becoming a district of So. Calif.-Arizona Conference; serving four
diverse churches; being active in district affairs; going to Samoa on an adult work team;
repairingj remodeling and constructing churches, parsonages and camps; taking early retirement
(under the 20 year rule) from the Conference; being president of his own real estate firm, with
an office on Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu; moving to the Bay area. These were all
adventures of his married working days.
In 1990, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that had metastasized to the bone. The
next seven years were spent traveling (to every continent except Antarctica); remodeling his
home; golfing; gardening; building a gazebo; being the"fix-it" man to his neighbors and friends;
and enjoying life to the fullest. At the time of his death, the survivors were his parents (who died
three months later at the ages of 101 and 104), his three sisters in Ohio; his wife in San Jose; Jill
and Charles Ramsey of Vancouver, Washington; Jack Wright, Anne, Ryan, Tristain and Kelsey
Hedges of Austin, Texas; Joe D, Cathleen, Amanda, Sam and Lily of Palo Alto, California.
He left his family and friends with a legacy of being generous with love, compassion,
helpfulness, with laughter, adventure, also the value of hard work, education and travel. For
all of his gifts to us we are very grateful.
Mahalo and Aloha
HAROLD E. JOHNSON
March 20, 1918 - March 17, 1998
JOHNSON, HAROLD E. (T. 42; F.44) New Eng. 41 (Oakdale); SCA 42 School; 43 SA: First,
Min. of Youth; 45 (Apr. 1) Pas: Trinity; 46 SBdino.: St. Paul's, CoPastor; 48 Oceanside: First;
53 Sepulveda; 58 Hawthorne; 63 Glendora: First; 69 Redondo Beach, First; 71 Exec. Sec. Conf.
Bd. of Pensions; PSW 77 LA: Westchester; 83 Fullerton: Orangethorpe; C-P 85; 86 L/A; 86 R'd
effective 7-31-86.
Harold E. Johnson was born in Kansas City,
Missouri. His family moved to Corona, California in
1922. His parents were active members of the Methodist Church in Corona for over forty years. His father
was a lay member, and his brother, Marvin, is a clergy
member of this Annual Conference. He attended San
Jose State College, but received his A.B. in philosophy
from the University of Redlands. He was graduated
from Boston University School of Theology in 1943.
In 1941 he was married to Dorothy Cooke of
Pasadena. They had two children, Leslie and Larry. For
many years Dorothy made her contribution to his
ministry with her music and her lovely soprano voice.
She passed away after a long debilitating bout with MS.
While the service record above shows his appointments, it fails to show his "record of service" to this Annual Conference. He was proud of his
55 year perfect attendance record at Annual Conference. While he served ten churches and
loved to preach, he had an immeasurable loyalty to the Annual Conference. His service was long
and varied. He was a member of the old Board of Education and chaired the Institute & Camp
organization. He was elected to the World Service and Finance Commission, and chaired the
Health Insurance Committee. He served as the chair of the first Rules Committee, chaired the
Committee on Investigation, and was instrumental in the workings of the Council on Professional
& Administrative Support Services. After retirement, he chaired the Personnel Policy
Committee, and was editor of clergy service records section of the Journal. He served six years
on the Conference staff as the first full-time Executive Secretary of the Board of Pensions,
fourteen years on the Board of Directors of the General Board of Pensions, and was a member
of the Pension Study Task Force that created the current pension program. He also served as the
Legislative Secretary for four General Conferences. He loved it all, and made a host of friends
and connections across the entire church which he cherished greatly.
Just before his retirement in 1986 he was married to Meryl Kuss, who had been a member
of his church in Hawthorne, twenty-five years before. Upon his retirement, they moved to
Encinitas, where together they created a quiet, lovely home where they graciously entertained
friends, enjoyed life, the church and their new expanded family. He preformed the wedding for
Meryl's son and his wife, and baptized their children. Meryl's son Michael and Harold's son,
Larry found in each other brothers and the family circle was complete.
He is survived by sons, Larry and Les; step-son Michael; step-daughter, Denise; two
grandsons, Will and Joshua; a brother, Rev. Marvin Johnson; sister, Theda and many nieces and
nephews.
Meryl K. Johnson
1
GRANDISON M. PHELPS, JR.
March 22,1923 - August 17,1997
PHELPS, GRANDISON M. JR. (T. 43; F. 45) N. Car.; SCA 55 SD: St. Paul; PSW 77; C-P 85;
92 R'd.
Rev. Gandison M. Phelps died peacefully at home
on Sunday, August 17, 1997. The only son of Rev.
Grandison M. Phelps, Sr. and Maddie Louise Phelps,
Rev. Phelps was born in Reidsville, North Carolina.
Grandison graduated from Clark College, Atlanta,
Georgia, with a degree in mathematics at the age of 19.
After graduating, he received his Master of Divinity
degree from Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta,
Georgia and did graduate studies at Boston University,
Howard University and San Diego State University. He
was received on trial into the ministry of the Methodist
Church in 1943 and attained full member status in 1945,
at the age of 22.
Rev. Phelps had pastorates in Massachusetts and
Maryland before serving as a chaplain in the US Army.
Following his miliary commitment, he relocated to San Diego where he served as senior pastor
of St. Paul UMC for 37 years. He retired from the ministry in June of 1992, completing 49 years
of service.
Rev. Phelps was the first African-American to campaign for public office hi San Diego,
losing by only ten votes after a controversial recount. Although unsuccessful in his bids for San
Diego City Council and the Board of Education, Grandison manifested a noteworthy
commitment to public service through his church, in housing, and in structured childcare and
early childhood education. With the support of St. Paul UMC, he was responsible for the
creation of Gingerbread Day Care Centers, providing an educational foundation for thousands
of San Diego children. Rev. Phelps also administered San Diego's first Head Start programs
through the Gingerbread facilities. The day care centers closed after his retirement in 1992; they
were in operation for over 20 years.
In 1968, Rev. Phelps established Bay Vista Methodist Heights Apartments, the first
federally-supported affordable housing development in southeast San Diego. Rev. Phelps served
as General Manager and Chair of the Board of the 268 unit complex from it's inception until his
death. Bay Vista Methodist Heights provides full-time employment to 35 employees.
Grandison served on the Board of Directors of Pacific Homes from 1981 to 1997. He also
served on the board of Neighborhood Development Corporation, an organization which
purchased and rehabilitated housing which was then made available for sale through low interest
federal loans. He was very active on many other boards and organizations throughout his life.
He marched for civil rights in San Diego and with Dr. Martin Luther King.
Rev. Phelps is survived by his wife, Susan Chenier Phelps; 4 children: Grandison M.
Phelps, III (wife, Rosetta), Joseph Caspar Phelps Sr. (Geri), Jonathan deKoven Phelps, Cheryl
Alethia Phelps; a stepson, Jamie R. Fountain; two sisters: Mrs. Sara P. Linden and Delores
White; 6 grandsons and one great-granddaughter.
Susan Phelps
C. RICHARD SHANOR
December 26, 1924 - January 16, 1998
SHANOR, C. RICHARD. (T.50; F.52) Pitts.; SCA 61 Fullerton, First, Assoc.; 66 Coor.,
METRO, SD Dist.; PSW 77; C-P 85; 88 R'd.
i
Dick was bora in Butler, Pennsylvania, the fourth
child of Paul and Marion Shanor. He grew up on his
family's poultry farm and attended a one-room country
school that included children from the first to eighth
grades. It was a big change when he got to Butler High
School with about 1500 students. Dick was president of
his class, but he missed his high school graduation due
to a ruptured appendix that almost killed him.
By the time he was ready to go to college he knew
he wanted to be a minister. He attended Allegheny
College in Meadville, Pennsylvania and continued his
education at Boston University where he earned a
Bachelor of Sacred Theology and PhD. In the process,
he was Minister of Education at West Roxbury, Massachusetts Congregational Church, studied the Character
Research Project in Schenectady, New York, taught Christian Education at the Methodist Church
in St. Petersburg, Florida and men at Fullerton UMC in California.
In 1966, Dick accepted the challenge of urban ministry when he founded METRO, a social
service agency in San Diego. He was the director for 21 years. During those years, METRO
grew from the Good Neighbor Center at Chollas View UMC, providing some emergency food
and clothing to a multi-faceted program addressing many needs in the community. Included as
part of the family are the San Diego Interfaith Housing Foundation, Horton House for lowincome seniors, Project Transition for ex-offenders, the Welfare Rights Organization, and the
San Diego Indian Ministry.
Upon his retirement in 1988, he welcomed the opportunity to pursue volunteer projects
near his home in Escondido. In recent years, Dr. Shanor served on the board of directors of the
North County Interfaith Council, which coordinates more than a dozen faith groups working on
everything from emergency food supplies to long-term housing. In 1991, Dick received a
Christian Unity Award, for serving as an advocate for the needy with city and government
agencies as well as addressing the needs of such people.
He is survived by his wife, AnnaLou Shanor; a son, Rick Shanor; a brother, Donald and
two grandchildren.
AnnaLou Shanor
RACHEL H. SWALBERG
December 6, 1941 - June 6,1997
SWALBERG, RACHE. (P.89; F.93) Pomona: Westmont; 93 Fontana; 96 Santa Paula
Rachel Cook was born and raised in Butler, New
Jersey. She attended Butler High School where she
became known for her twirling abilities as a drum
majorette. She graduated in 1959 and went to Patterson
State College where she received her B.A. in Education
in 1963.
Rachel embraced Methodism from early childhood. She found in it a deep and abiding source of
inspiration and comfort. In her late teen years she began
to experience feelings of being called to be more involved in the church—maybe even a minister. But, she
put those feelings aside and pursued a teaching career.
She taught in Butler for one year and then accepted
an assignment in the Antelope Valley in California in
1964. It was there that she met her husband-to-be,
Philip Swalberg. They were married in 1966 and she stopped teaching to become the mother of
two boys, Eric and Jim. All during this time she remained active in the church.
In 1979 the family moved to Milford, New Hampshire and she became very active in the
lay ministries of the church. But, it wasn't enough. So, with encouragement from her pastor,
she applied to enter the Master of Divinity program at Boston University in late 1982. This
activity was short-lived because Philip's work required the family to return to the Antelope
Valley in 1983. She became active in the Palmdale church but was not satisfied. In 1985, she
entered the Master of Divinity program at the Claremont School of Theology.
In 1990, she was ordained Deacon and served the Westmont Church in Pomona. In 1993
she was ordained Elder and, when most women her age were thinking about grand-motherhood,
she was launching herself into a new— and greatest career of all, service to the Lord. She was
transferred that year to Fontana UMC where she served for three years. In 1966 she was
appointed to the Santa Paula UMC.
Rachel fell in love with the Santa Paula area. After spending so many years in the desert
conditions of the Antelope Valley, the cool ocean breezes and fog were like balm to her being.
This was where she was meant to be. Her whole being seemed to say, "Here I am Lord. Is it I
Lord? I have heard you calling in the night." And sure enough, the Lord was once again calling
her, only this time He was calling her home. Rachel had been only three months into her Santa
Paula appointment when she was diagnosed with cancer. Shortly after the beginning of 1997,
she was unable to continue with her ministry.
And so to you dear Rachel we say, there are few people who have had your faith, let alone
the courage to act on it as you did. Your strength and tenacity over the years is a powerful
inspiration to us, your husband and children. Even in your moments of greatest anxiety and
doubt, you never failed to be a mother to the children and companion, friend and lover to your
husband. After all is said and done, you really were a teacher who touched so many lives
especially during your ministry. But most of all you taught us to say, "I love you."
Philip Swalberg and sons, Eric and Jim
RAYMOND S. WERNER
July 27, 1905 - January 30, 1998
WERNER, RAYMOND S. (T.32; F.35) NCA; SCA 43 LA: Bethany; 44 San Pedro, First, Asst.;
50 LA: Florence Ave.; 58 LA: Hawthorne; 61 LB: Los Altos, Assoc.; 63 Redondo Beach, First,
Assoc.; 66 No. LB, Assoc.; 67 Inglewood: Grace; 70 (Aug.l) R'd; PSW 77; C-P 85 R'd.
Reidar Sverre Wernersen, a middle child, was born
to Methodist parents in Fredrikstad, Norway. His family
consisted of eight brothers and one sister, all of whom
were essentially reared by his mother, as his father, a
seafaring man, was absent from home on long voyages
lasting three to four years at a time. As a youth, Reidar
developed an active church life and, at age sixteen,
during a conversion experience, he committed himself
to becoming a minister of the gospel.
In 1925, he emigrated to the United States leaving
behind what he considered to be a less than favorable
religious and political climate for religious dissenters
from the established state church (Lutheran). He
became an active member of the Bethelship NorwegianDanish Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York where
he met his future wife, Hannah Olsen, also an immigrant from Norway. He became a US citizen
and anglicized his name to Raymond S. Werner, a common practice of new citizens at that time.
He prepared himself for his future education by studying English at night school while
supporting himself as an electrician during the day.
The fulfillment of a long-held dream became realized when he enrolled at Garrett Biblical
Institute, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 1932. After his first return
trip to Norway to join his wife, who had earlier returned to her family home to await the birth
of their son, he decided not to remain in the Norway Conference of the Methodist Church, but
to return to America to serve pastorates in Wisconsin where he preached in both languages.
During the mid 1930's, the family moved to Oakland, California where Raymond was appointed
to one of the charges of the Norwegian-Danish Conference of the Pacific Coast. Remaining
fluent in both English and his native tongue, he served bilingual congregations until sometime
after the conclusion of World War II. In 1943, he transferred to the Southern California-Arizona
Conference and served churches in the Los Angeles area until retirement.
During WWII, Raymond's tireless efforts, together with his wife Hannah, on behalf of
Norwegian Relief was recognized by His Majesty King Haakon VII in a personal award
presented by the Norwegian Ambassador during a ceremony in Los Angeles.
After 38 years in the ministry, Raymond retired from active service to care for his wife,
who endured a long and debilitating illness. They were married 56 years before her death in
1987. Soon after retirement, he fulfilled a project which was to read the entire published works
of Henrik Ibsen in the original text. Raymond continued to read, study and manage on his own
at their home in Torrance until a little over a year before his death.
He is survived by a son, Dr. Raymond S. Werner, Jr. of Irvine; two daughters, Mrs.
Margaret Jenssen of San Pedro, and Mrs. Betty Wagner of Chattanooga, TN; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
The Werner Children
MILTON E, \¥INHAIV1
November 22,1911 j August 25,1997
'WlNHAM, Mff.TON E. (T.57; F.59) Tcim,; 60 W, Ohio; 6B SCA Downey,
Mm. of Ed,; 67V/L; 77 PSW Readmitted &ll\L; C-P «5 R'd
.
.
LOUISE ATWOOD
May 21, 1910 ^ May 23, 1997
ATWM-«l,JOHN S. (T.39- J:,4i) KANSAS; SGA 42 (Jan) Norrhrtdge; 44 (Sept.)
l^kcwixx! City, -i-7 (Feb) Artcsk, ^2 San I>k^o: Pt, Ixaia; 61 Scottstlale; 66
(Dec, 1} S.in'pedro: First; 71 Pacifk B«di^ "6 R/'d.ll^lp^R'd. Dkd
February 7,
FLOE M. BOWERS
July 1, 1900 - March 3, 1998
BOWERS, ROYL. (T.18; F.24) St. Louis, Missouri; So. Cal.-Ariz., 60 (Sept.) Phoenix, First,
Assoc.; R'd. Died January 15,1969.
Floe was born on a farm near Nixa, Missouri. Her
parents, Frances and "Pete" Frazier, raised their four
children in the Southern Baptist denomination.
After graduation from high school, Floe attended
Marionville College, and then taught school for two
years in a one room school not far from Marionville. It
was at Marionville that she met Roy L. Bowers, who
was preparing to become a Methodist minister. It was
somewhat challenging to let her parents know that she
was planning to marry a Methodist minister, but the
marriage did take place on May 24,1920.
Roy and Floe had four children: James W., Frances
L., Duane R., and Leon "Bill". There are nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Despite her young age and fears of the role, she
found that she loved being "her pastor's wife." With few conveniences, children to raise, food
producing gardens to be tended, canning out of necessity, and few dollars at hand, Floe always
counted it a privilege to serve in the Christian ministry side by side with "her Pastor."
She was very active in the former Southwest Missouri Annual Conference (Missouri West)
endeavors, especially the WSCS. She not only served in various offices on the district level, but
also on the conference level. For several years Roy served as dean of the conference youth
institute, and Floe worked untold hours helping with the planning and details each year.
The World War n years found Floe even busier than usual. Besides arranging housing for
many Camp Crowder, Missouri GI's and their wives, she became quite involved with the Gray
Ladies at the local hospital in Joplin. During those same years, her service with the Girl Scouts
led to her becoming the camp director for several years.
After spending most of their lives in Missouri, Floe and Roy moved to Phoenix, Arizona
in 1960 where Roy became the Associate Minister at the First UMC for the next eight years.
While at Phoenix, Floe found yet one more talent to be shared with hundreds of people over
the next many years. Until she reached 96 years of age, she presented monologues (in costume)
lasting 45 to 60 minutes, without notes or prompter. She did her own research, wrote and
memorized her own scripts, and presented to her many audiences in four states: Susanna
Wesley, Granny Brand, the Circuit Rider's Wife and The Missionary.
Being allowed by God to remain active until her last illness, simply meant a longer
opportunity to find new ways to serve and share her unshakeable faith. She participated in, and
finished a six mile Crop Walk at 90. Every new day was a day to be cherished, and to find
something that she could do for someone else. She continued to garden and her flowers
frequently were taken to others to enjoy.
Floe moved to Washington in 1990 to be near her son Bill. Roy died in 1969 and her oldest
son died in 1992. Her daughter passed away in 1997. Influenza that turned into pneumonia
became the illness that caused Floe's death.
L.F. "Bill" Bowers
VERDA E. CORDELL
October 10,1899 - October 8, 1997
CORDELL, ROBERT E. (T.23; F.25) Ind.; N.Y.East; Cal. 37 Hanford; Cal., 39 North Kings
County Parishdale Broadway; SCA 52 Venice; 57 LA: Robertson Blvd.; 59 Simi; 60 Riverside,
Arlington; 62 LB: Moore Memorial; 65 R'd. Died December 29,1976.
Verda E. (Barton) Cordell was born to a large
family in Albion, IL. Her twin brother, Vernon, died at
an early age and from her passing age, at two days short
of 98 years, she lived her life for two.
After college, the family moved to Indianapolis,
IN. It was there, while attending a prayer meeting, at
the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church that she met
Robert Cordell. It seems she had a mouth full of chewing gum and her dad insisted that she get rid of it. They
were kneeling down to pray and the fellow in front of
her had a nice big foot so she parked the gum on the
inside of his heel. They were married a year later after
a Watch Night Service at Midnight the start of 1920.
With Robert, Verda also took on his two daughters,
Pauline and Mary Belle from his deceased first wife.
At a revival meeting at the Grace Church, Bob got the call to Christian ministry and so
went Verda. Bob gave up a promising career as a draftsman, with only an eight grade education
and a family. Then Verda had a son of their own, Robert Eugene.
They started with the Waverly Circuit, then Whiteland Station, attending Franklin College
for two years. A chance to go to DePauw University in Greencastle brought the Quincy Circuit.
Bob had to finish his high school courses before he could be graduated from college and also
was working on his Conference Course of Study for Ordination. This meant that Verda was
mother, sometime tutor and part time provider for the family through all this.
The family moved to the New York East Conference and Union Theological Seminary and
churches in Brooklyn. Verda earned the money for the four new tires that got them through with
no flats. At home, Verda was mother and nurse and at church, she was play director and Sunday
School teacher. In West Haven there were threats for trying to close down gambling joints. In
Torrington the family saw the marriage of the two daughters.
In 1936, the family came to California. Verda could sing and play the piano which came
in handy for extra income as times were still hard for ministers'salaries. They were assigned to
a church in Santa Rosa and finally came to the Los Angeles area. During WWII, Verda helped
the girls at home help the boys overseas with letters and packages of goodies through the church.
Many of the good young men came back from overseas and married the good young women in
the Church: these young families stayed with the Church and kept the Church alive. This
included their son, Bobby.
Verda was a very good telephone operator on the old type boards and could do typing and
secretarial work. Crochet was her best handy-craft.
Verda will be remembered for her hard work that kept a ministry and family functioning.
This is a story of a partnership that was a very good ministry for Christ.
Paul M. Van Leuven, Grandson
WINSTON J.ELLIS
September 17, 1910 - January 17, 1998
ELLIS, EVERT EZRA (P.34; F.38) 34 School; 38 North Glendale; 39 North Glendale; 49 Wesley;
56 Ntl. YMCA; 57 St. Paul's; 58 STC; 62 Withdrawn; R'd. 74. Died May 27,1989.
r
Winston Eleanor Johnson Ellis was born in the
small cozy town of Camas, Washington. Her father,
O.F. Johnson, taught her tunes on the piano at the age of
6 and at the ripe old age of 8 she started formal lessons.
She attended Mills college in Oakland and graduated
with a B.A. in music at age 20. She also played on
NBC's first coast-to-coast broadcast on radio. At Mills
she met Evert Ezra Ellis. They were married in Portland, Oregon in 1931.
Their son, Donald Johnson, was born in 1934 the
same year Ezra entered the ministry. While Ezra
attended Drew Seminary in New Jersey, Winston did
post graduate work at Julliard. She was a member of Phi
Beta Music and Drama fraternity. Ezra graduated and
was sent to North Glendale, California, a small church
scheduled to be closed in six months. There was not parsonage and the church was surrounded
by weeds. They were devastated by the condition (Winston was also pregnant with daughter,
Kay) but, together they pulled weeds and cleaned bathrooms and developed the old building into
a beautiful place of worship. The church grew from 60 members to over 2500 members in 11
years. Musical programs developed with Winston as organist, brought recognition to the church
for its outstanding music. The choir director said that he had worked in other churches with
other organists, but never found any person who could "weave a service of worship together the
way she could" or as beautifully.
Her son, Don, became an outstanding musician and won a Grammy award in 1972.
Daughter, Winston Katherine, was born in 1938 and became a successful entrepreneur in the
computer and financial services industry. Her daughter, Susan, born in 1943, focused her career
in the medical field.
Winston played for a variety of church services as well as weddings and funerals. She held
organ or piano positions throughout California and in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Madison, New
Jersey; and Portland, Oregon.
Winston loved and managed her immediate and extended family, while entertaining her
beloved P.E.O. and other groups of family and friends. She was a constant support of her family
and most would not have accomplished what they did without her gentle guidance, wisdom,
support and knowledge. She was elegant and cultured and always seemed to know what was
"right." She always dug into the task at hand and her energy and interests were vast. Ezra and
Winston had friends worldwide and they often could not go into a restaurant without recognition.
After Ezra's retirement, they lived in Leisure World, Laguna Hills. Ezra passed away in
1989 and Winston remained in Laguna Hills until five years ago when she moved to Vancouver,
Washington, near her home town of Camas, to be near her daughter and grandchildren.
We will all miss her beautiful music, her steadfast presence, her delightful surprise and her
everlasting love.
Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
RUTH M. FISKE
December 31, 1909 - February 6, 1998
FISKE, LOUIS M. (T.22; F.24) Central America; So. Cal. Spanish-American Institute; 33 LA:
Westland; 36 LA: Church of All Nations, Assoc.; So. Cal.-Ariz., 45 (Jan. 1) Supt. Panama
Mission & Dir. Of Pan American Institute; 59 (Feb.) LA: Church of All Nations, Assoc.; 62
Church of All Nations; 64 R'd.; 65 (Jul.) Granada Park, Asst. Died June 23, 1972.
Ruth (Milbury) Fiske was born in 1904 in Lynn,
Massachusetts, and was the youngest of 3 children. She
lived in Lynn until she graduated from high school in
1920. She then attended Boston University where she
earned a Secretarial Certificate in 1922.
She returned to Boston University to study Religious Education and in 1929 she graduated with a B.R.E.
She then moved to Los Angeles that same year. She
began work at the All Nations Foundation, as a secretary
to the Director, Rev. Robert McKibben, around 1930.
Her dedicated efforts and hard work soon earned her the
position of Controller of Funds and Executive Secretary.
Ruth was the type of person that always worked
harder and gave more of herself than was expected, yet
she felt it was a privilege to serve the Church and this
deserving community. Although she was tireless in her goal of doing the Lord's work, she had
the gift of embracing others in her quest and bringing out their best efforts as well. As time went
on, she became extensively involved in most of the social and religious activities of All Nations
Church in the transitional East Side. The All Nations Foundation integrated Boys Club, Girls
Club, a nursery school, library, family camp, and a low-cost medical clinic for the community.
Ruth was personally involved in one way or another with all entities. One of her personal
passions and talents was music, and she served as the choir director at All Nations for thirty
years, as well as being the back up organist, a regular soloist, and a leader and participant in
musical programs.
It is not surprising with her full commitments, that she was not married for the first time
until February 1960 to Stewart Bedwell. She continued working at All Nations during her
marriage, yet Stewart passed away too soon by 1966. She worked at All Nations one more year
before she retired.
In July of 1968 she married a long-time church associate, friend, and widower Rev. Louis
Fiske. By 1969, they both moved to the Claremont Manor, in California, and became members
of Claremont UMC, where Rev. Fiske worked as Minister of Visitation. Louis passed away in
1972, yet as was her pattern, Ruth became very involved in the work of the church, as financial
secretary, director of the Youth Bell Choir, and started the Adult Bell Choir.
Ruth is survived by her niece (brother's daughter) Mary Ann Macias; a nephew, Bruce
Milbury, and grand nieces and nephews; as well as step-family sons, Robert and Walter Fiske
and their extended families.
Walter M. Fiske
ESTHER J. FOYE
June 18, 1921 - November 11, 1997
FOYE, GEORGE E. (T. 49; F.54) Montana; SCA 56; 56 Holbrook, AZ; 59 Lakewood: Trinity;
63 Maywood: Atlantic Blvd.; 69 SD: Rolando; PSW 77; 79 Thousand Oaks, First; 84 R'd. C-P
85; 91 (Jan. 15 - June 30) San Marcos.
'
Esther June Levens was born in Portsmouth, R.I., the
youngest of a family of five girls and one boy. Her
father died when she was three, leaving the family in
poverty. She told us that she usually went barefoot in
the summer to save her shoes for winter. Her mother
took in laundry for income but often the cupboard was
nearly bare.
At the age of fifteen, she met George Foye at
Portsmouth Camp Meeting, just behind the old Quaker
Meeting House, of which she was a birthright member.
He was drawn to her by her winning smile. Circumstances separated them for the next three years while
George served in the CCC and the US Army. They
resumed their relationship in 1939 while George was
still in the service. After he was discharged and she
finished high school they were married on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, August 24,
1940.
Life took a drastic change for them when George felt the call to become a minister. The
next few years took them to Cleveland, Ohio; Billings, Montana; Baltimore, Maryland; and then
back to Boston, in which cities George finished high school, graduated from two colleges and
seminary. Meanwhile Esther gave birth to three sons and a daughter! Esther was never able to
attend college but she always said she earned another degree, an M. A. in home care and child
rearing.
In 1956 they moved into this Conference where they successively served churches in
Holbrook, Arizona, and Lakewood, Maywood, San Diego, and Thousand Oaks, California. They
retired in 1984 to Citrus Gardens in Escondido, their first experience in home ownership.
Esther's Quaker background may explain her quiet reticence to talk about her religion. She
was Christian by example rather than verbal profession. A totally honest and unpretentious
person, she abhorred pretense, pomposity, and phony piety. As a minister's wife she preferred
to avoid the public eye, yet she was a classy dresser, loved bright colors, and took up collecting,
repairing, and dressing dolls, leaving a collection of over 100. She also enjoyed knitting,
reading, listening to music, camping, and her rose garden. And, in spite of numerous afflictions
in her later years, she remained a loving, loyal, and patient wife, mother, and grandmother. Her
death came very suddenly and unexpectedly on Veterans Day, 1997 but her spirit will remain
with us always.
George E. Foye, David, Dale, and Dan Foye & Janet Munzenmaier
MABEL G. HOCKER
February 1, 1902 - December 3, 1997
HOCKER, HARVEY H. (T.06; F.08) N. Indiana; So. Cal., 09 (Jan. 10) Reedley; 11 San Luis
Obispo; 14 Fullerton; 17 Redondo; 23 San Fernando; 27 Compton; 31 Pasadena, Hartzell
Memorial; 37 Covina; So. Cal.-Ariz., 39 Covina; 46 Montebello; 47 Minister of FinanceConference Board of Missions and Church Extension; 49 R'd.; 51-54 (Arcadia, Assoc.); 55-56
(Arcadia, Min. Of Vstn.)- Died May 22,1957.
Mabel Hocker was born Mabel Grace Steel, February 1, 1902, to Arthur and Florence Steel in Redondo
Beach, CA. She was the third of four girls.
After graduating from high school, she went on to
graduate from the University of Southern California.
She studied music and earned a teaching credential.
She taught 7* grade for one year before marrying
Harvey Hocker, the Methodist minister in town. Harvey
was a widower with five children. Mabel helped raise
his children and was a very helpful minister's wife. She
was always available to sing, lead choirs, and play the
organ.
After Harvey passed away, she lived with her sister
and brother-in-law in Arcadia for 20 years, where she
remained involved with her church.
In 1975 she moved to Southern Oregon to live with her niece and family. While there, she
continued to be available to play the organ at church whenever needed. She moved back to
California to live at Royal Gardens in Duarte with her younger sister in 1985. She remained
there until she went to be with the Lord hi 1997.
Rita Stephens
JUDITH A. KINDER
August 17, 1904 - August 26, 1997
KINDER, JAMES L. (T.27; F.29) So. Cal., 27 LA: Westland; 28 LA: Union Ave.; 29 Bisbee,
Ariz.; India, 30 (under app't by Amer. Friends Soc.); Bombay Conf.; 35 Bowen Memorial; 38
(Jan. 30) Missy Bd. Of Missions; 39 (April) Miss'y to India; So. Cal.-Ariz., 55 (Sept 1) Vista;
60 Miss'y to Pakistan; 68 R'd. Died January 17,1972.
,-
Judith Kinder was a person who loved God first,
and shared that love with the people whom she touched.
Born in Illinois, she moved as a young girl to the
orchards of Washington State. She adored her father,
George, and always wanted to be his "right hand man."
In 1919 the family moved to Huntington Park,
where she helped her father build their 7 bedroom
family home. As a graduate of Huntington Park High
School, she took the two twenty dollar gold pieces,
wrapped in a linen handkerchief from her father's hand
as she boarded the train headed for Asbury College. She
never saw her adored father again.
After graduation, Judith married Dr. James Kinder.
Together they shared a vision that would take them to
the missionary fields of India and Pakistan for the next
35 years. They were exposed to a world of poverty, ignorance, disease and grief, yet were
passionate about bringing the gospel and the "good news" to the suffering. They were
instrumental in building many schools and hospitals in these impoverished countries.
In the 1960's Judith and James returned to the US and served the Methodist Church in
Vista CA. After retiring, Judith and James moved back to Huntington Park, where she
ministered to James, who suffered a terminal illness. Judith moved to San Marcos after James
death.
She demonstrated amazing strength in her retirement, by planting fruit trees on her new
property, raising huge gardens, and rearing dozens of her favorite Shanen goats. She loved the
earth, and animals, and provided fruit, vegetables, milk, and cheese for her family, her friends,
and for her community. Always seeking to help others, she loaned thousands of dollars to
family, friends, and even strangers. She would never turn away anyone in need, and housed and
fed dozens of homeless people over the years. Always the entrepreneur, she endeavored in
several home based business ventures, successful and not successful and always passionate.
Judith always gave all that she had, and was always surprised and grateful when the
abundance flowed back to her. Over the years she truly gave all that she owned to her church,
her universities, her charities, and her family. Judith was a woman of great compassion, and
unequaled action. If there was a problem, she wanted to fix it If there was not one to fix it, she
would fix it herself. Whether it was a leaky faucet, or a face full of tears, she was there to help.
Politically active, she saw a great void in the world today, and worked ceaselessly to bring back
integrity, common sense and stability to a world she found chaotic and unstable.
Judith will be remembered by those of us who were fortunate to know her as a woman who
truly and entirely loved God, her fellow man, and ultimately lived by the directive of her Lord
to "rejoice in all things."
Judson A. Elaine
MARY O. LAWRENCE
May 7, 1918 - April 22, 1997
LAWRENCE, ROLLIN B. (T.43; F.45) Phila., 43 Cumbola Cir.; 45 Christian-Gap; 48 Bird-inHand; 49 Cornwall; 52 Asst. Chaplain, Meth. Home; 58 Asst. To Ad. Dir. Meth. Ch. Home; So.
Cal.-Ariz., 59 Supt. Desert Crest, Phoenix, Ariz.; 66 Redondo Beach, First, Assoc.; 70 San
Bernardino, St. Paul's Assoc.; Pac. And S.W., 77 San Bernardino, St. Paul's Assoc.; PSW, 78
R'd.; CaLPac. 85 R'd. Died June 4,1987.
Mary was born on May 7, 1918 in Hunterdon
County, New Jersey. Her parents were hard working
Christian people who lived a simple life. The family
moved to Easton, PA, when she was 4 years old. After
graduating from Easton High School, she worked as a
secretary for five years. Because of her great desire to
become a deaconess in the church, she went to Kansas
City to the National Training School for Christian
workers and graduated 4 years later.
After obtaining her degree, she was faced with a
dilemma: if she married her fianc6, the church would
not allow her to become a deaconess. If her fiance did
not marry, he would not be able to be assigned to a
church. She decided to marry Rollin, her fiance^ and
live the life of a minister's wife. After several pastoral
assignments in the coal regions and Pennsylvania Dutch sections, Rollin became assistant
chaplain at the Cornwall (PA) Methodist Home, a newly formed retirement community for
Methodist ministers and their families. They had three children: Bruce, David and Betsey.
Because of Rollin's arthritis, the family moved to Phoenix in 1958, where Rollin became
Superintendent of Desert Crest, one of the Pacific Homes retirement units. Rollin returned to
the ministry in 1966, and was assigned to various churches in the southern California area. Mary
studied nursing and began working in 1973 as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the Neurosurgical
Unit of Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Loma Linda. Rollin passed away in 1987 while the
family was living in Riaito, and Mary worked as a nurse for several more years before suffering
a stroke in 1989. She was an inspiration to all who knew her as she fought bravely to overcome
her speech and walking difficulties. She and Betsey returned to Cornwall in 1991 to live near
the house where Betsey was brought up.
Mary and Rollin loved to travel and to take in the blessings of nature. Every year they
would motor east to spend time in the Pennsylvania mountains of Laporte. After the boys went
to college and established their own families, the trip east would include stopovers to see the kids
and the grandkids.
Mary never had an unkind word for anyone, even though she was determined and tireless
in her convictions and her quests. She practiced her strong faith by being a patient, gentle,
caring, and giving friend to all she met. She devoted much of her energy in later life to caring
for Betsey, who was born with Down's Syndrome. Mary was an accomplished musician, a
wonderful cook, a supportive and steadfast parent, and a believer in the simple beauty. Thank
you for joining us in celebrating her full and wonderful life.
The Lawrence Family
GRACE MCGEE
December 1, 1909 - December 31, 1997
MCGEE, JOHN B. (T.30; F.33) SC 30 School; 33 Atwater; 36 Dir. Young Peoples' Work,
Goodwill Ind., Boston, Mass.; SCA 39; 42 Roscoe; 43 San Jacinto; 45 (Jan 1) LA: Church of
All Nations, Assoc.; 58 LA: Epworth; 61 (Jan.) Whittier, First. Assoc.; 70 R'd; PSW 77; C-P
85 R'd.
Grace B. McGee was born in Tulare, California on
December 1, 1909. She was the youngest of nine
children of Milo Wheeler and Etta Smith. She attended
Pasadena High School and Pasadena Junior College.
While attending school, she had two loves— music and
sports. She was a member of the A'Cappella Choir,
singing in many operettas and made her letters in two
sports: track and softball.
In 1929 she entered the National Training School
for Women in San Francisco. The school was under the
Women's Home Missionary Society. This is where
Grace planned to prepare herself for a career in full-time
Christian service. She had already met her husband-tobe, John McGee, in 1926 on the tennis court of the
Holliston Avenue Methodist Church in Pasadena. She
and John were married in 1930 at Holliston Avenue. They left immediately for Boston, where
John had been accepted to the Boston University School of Theology. For the next three years
Grace and John lived at the Morgan Memorial Church of All Nations. During this time, Grace
also attended Boston University and worked in the Children's Activity Program.
In 1933, John and Grace returned to California, where he served at the Atwater Methodist
Church for three years. In 1936, by special appointment, they returned to Boston, where Grace
assisted John while he was Director of Education at Morgan Memorial. This was an inner city
neighborhood. While there, their two daughters, Nancy and Kathy were born.
In 1942, John and Grace returned to California where Grace became busy raising their
daughters arid was very active in PTA activities.
Upon retirement, John and Grace moved to Brentwood in Northern California to be near
their daughter, Kathy, and to help with their grandchildren.
Grace's health began to fail and in 1988 she entered the Regency Hills Convalescent
Hospital where she was a resident until her death on December 31, 1997, thus closing a life of
service and love for family and friends.
She is held in loving memory by her husband, John, two daughters, six grandchildren and
six great-grandchildren.
John McGee
ROSALIE W. MIXON
February 17, 1908 - February 27, 1998
MKONjOHNL. (F.52) Presbyterian Church, So. Cal.-Ariz., 52 Church of All Nations and
Exec. Director of All Nations Fdtn.; 59 Prof. So. Calif. School of Theology; 70 (July 1) R'd.;
PSW 77 R'd. Died August 5,1982.
Rosalie was born a person of passion, at home in
rural Missouri, to a family of teachers. She became (like
many pilgrims) a world traveler, who inspired her
children to be travelers of the world, too.
Along life's path, Rosalie distinguished herself
with an MSW in social work from USC, joined John in
helping make it possible for Marian Anderson to sing on
the Capitol steps, served as missionary to Mescalero
Apaches, worked as a social worker for Pacific State
Hospital, presented demographic church studies, achieved a Fulbright Award to set-up a social work program in
struggling Iran, received a Distinguished Alumnus
Award from Park College, and gained a listing in Who's
Who of American Women.
Now, her children Rosemary, David, Robert, and
Lindley, are spread like seeds to the wind in Halibut Cove Chicago, Portland, Fairfield (IA) by
way of Greece, Majorca, Barcelona, Iran, Australia, India, Japan, China, South America. She
even celebrated her Golden Anniversary with John in Yucatan, Mexico. I know that I will never
forget flying to Iran, by way of Corinthos, and sharing Christmas with family and friends
huddled in a basement around one of the only Christmas trees in Shiraz.
Her journey brought her to Pilgrim Place among great loving friends, who shared with me
one last snapshot of Rosalie's life. It is a custom at Pilgrim Place that a podiatrist would come
and examine the ailing feet of residents. Just after her 90th birthday, the foot doctor arrived to
a throng of waiting pilgrims to have their feet looked at. When an aide tried to move her to the
front of the line she said, "No, I will wait my turn." No more to wait. She has come home.
Robert Mixon
MARJORIE M. NICHOLS
November 28, 1901 - December 17, 1997
NICHOLS, ALEC G. (T.31; R33) Pacific; 31 Winters; 33 (Jan.) Visalia; 36 Glendale; So. Cal.Ariz. 39 Glendale, Broadway; 41 SD: Asbury; 47 Santa Ana, First; 55 LA: Trinity; 58 LB: First;
65 Laguna Hills: Leisure World. Died December 20,1968.
Marjorie was born in York, Nebraska, and grew up
on the farm her grandfather had homesteaded. In 1921
she moved to California and worked in the offices of
Bullock's Department Store. It was in the Chums Class
at Trinity Church in Los Angeles that she met Alec
Gerald Nichols. While courting, Marjorie and Nick
enjoyed attending conferences at Forest Home. They
were married in 1928 at the Florence Heights Methodist
Episcopal Church in Los Angeles where Nick was the
supply pastor.
Their first churches were in Winters and Visalia.
The Depression years found Marjorie busy caring for
three small children, and managing to feed and clothe
the family on a very limited budget. While serving the
Broadway Methodist Church in Glendale, Nick became
District Governor of the Lions Club. Their trip to Havana, Cuba, for an International Convention
was the beginning of a life-long love of travel.
San Diego became home in 1941 when they went to the Asbury Methodist Church. Along
with the Servicemen's Lunches every Sunday, she was cook for MYF Institutes, and entertained
church members as well as servicemen far away from home. It was in Santa Ana that more of
her talents began flourishing. She was responsible for lovely flower arrangements and special
holiday altar pieces for the church. She became know as "Mother of the MYF Hamburger Club,"
and was active in WSCS, parsonage managing, and being a new grandma.
During their years at Trinity and First Methodist in Long Beach, Marge and Nick became
"old hands" at leading tours abroad. Marjorie continued being "Hostess with the Mostest," served
as Chaplain and Corresponding Secretary of her P.E.O. Chapter, and was an involved
grandmother-of-seven. They moved to Laguna Hills in 1965. As there was no parsonage,
Marjorie was finally able to decorate her own home. After Nick died in 1968, she kept busy
organizing luncheons and mini-trips, making tin-quilled frames for Madonna pictures and giving
talks about them, visiting family (whether in Nebraska, Boston, or Guam), and traveling - to
Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Orient.
In 1983 Marjorie chose to move to Quaker Gardens in Stanton. She enjoyed managing
many of the "A" Building activities, organizing outings, and serving on the Residents' Executive
Committee. After surgery for breast cancer in 1985, the pace of her life slowed. In 1990 she
was moved to the Health Center. With the convenience of a wheelchair van, she was able to be
with us in our homes for holidays and special occasions, such as her 90* birthday celebration in
1991. She was buried at Forest Law on December 20th, the 29th anniversary of her beloved
Nick's going home.
Geraldine Sexton, Jack Nichols, Barbara Brinkley
LOIS C. SEIFERT
August 13, 1917 - August 25,1997
SEIFERT, HARVEY). (T. 34; F.38) Ind.; SCA48 (June 1) Prof., Sch. Of Rel.; USC, 57 Prof.,
School of Theology- at Claremont; PSW 77 R'd.; C-P 85 R'd.
Lois Cummiiigs Seifert was born in Los Angeles.
She lived in the Imperial Valley until she was 2 years
old and then traveled with her parents between Iowa and
California several times before finally settling in Riverside. She attended the University of California at
Berkeley where she received a BA in psychology. She
was later awarded a scholarship for graduate work in
Christian Education at Scarritt College, Nashville.
In Nashville, Lois met Harvey Seifert and they
were soon married. They spent three years in Adrian,
Michigan, where Harvey taught at Adrian College. In
1945, they moved back to Southern California where
Harvey joined the faculty at the USC Graduate School
of Religion. When the school relocated and became the
School ofTheology at Claremont, Harvey, Lois and
their 3 daughters followed in 1958. They were among the founders of Claremont UMC.
Lois has always worked actively in the Methodist Church, from her first job after college
as Director of Youth Ministries at Spurgeon UMC to her recent work as a trainer and consultant.
From 1960 to 1974, she was Director of Christian Education at Claremont UMC where she,
among other innovations, designed an "intake interview" to learn from parents their expectations
for their children's Christian Education. On the Conference level, she helped develop programs
of sex education and evangelism. She was a certified lab leader of Youth ministry, Intergenerational Education, and Human Sexuality Education (for Junior and Senior High youth and their
parents), often taking these programs "on the road." Only this last year was she reluctantly
considering a gradual "retirement" from traveling and teaching. (At the age of 79!)
Lois was a consecrated Diaconal Minister of Christian Education. She also served on many
boards and committees at all levels, from local to national. She was a delegate to several General
and Jurisdictional Conferences, and was a member of the Commission on the Status and Role
of Women. In the early 1980's, she chaired a Conference committee to design a 4-week study
course on "Homosexuality and Homophobia". In 1984, after test teaching that study at the
Claremont UMC, she saw a need, and to fill it, was instrumental in establishing the Claremont
chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). She continued as
chapter coordinator, providing consultation and support, until the last few weeks of her life.
After Harvey retired in 1981, Lois and Harvey moved to Pilgrim Place, in Claremont,
where he now lives in the Health Services Center. The Seiferts have 3 daughters (Carolyn, Mary
Lois, and Linda), and 2 grandchildren.
Lois will be remembered for her gentle manner and caring concern for all people. She
fought for inclusive language, for Reconciling Congregations, for that which would embrace
people of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations. She was a gentle, yet
persistent activist. We miss her.
Carolyn Virgin, Mary Lois Comeskey, Linda Jean Seifert
NEVO C. WARNE
Febraary 1, 1909 - November 20, 1997
WARNE, EDMUND R., JR. (T. 38; F.40) N.W. Ind.; SCA 47 (Nov. 1) El Cajon; 50 Reseda; 57
El Centro; 59 Lancaster; 63 (Feb 1) Dept of Finance & Field Service, Nat5! Div., GBGM; PSW
77; 78 R'd; C-P 85 R'd.
Nevo Pearl Cowgill Warne was born February 1,
1909 in Putnam County, Indiana. In 1934, she graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.
While working as the church secretary of the Fillmore
Methodist Church, she met and on July 27,1936 married
the student pastor, Edmund Riker Warne. Together they
devoted their lives to serving Methodist Churches in
Indiana, Southern California, and eventually throughout
the United States as they became modern circuit riders
with the Board of Global Ministries.
They found time to raise two children. They grew
to love Yosemite National Park, where they built a home
to which they retired in 1983. In retirement, they
continued their lifelong interest in world peace and
Nevo continued to develop her creative abilities in
painting and writing. She recently finished her autobiography which is treasured by her family.
On November 20, 1997, at the age of 88 she died after a brief illness. She is survived by her
husband, two children, and two grandchildren. She is greatly missed by her family and many
friends. I quote from her autobiography, Lives Entwined, Chapter 27, "That You Might Know
Me Better."
Hove
I love God as presented through the teachings of Jesus.
I love People especially little children, young people and adults, be they black, pink,
yellow, brown or white.
I love my family: my husband, Edmund Riker Warne; our son, Edmund Russell; and our
daughter, Katherine Sue; our granddaughter, Carolyn Joe; our grandson, Robert
Alan; our son-in-law, Gil.
I love animals, especially deer, dogs, cats, squirrels, bears, raccoons and coyotes, etc. I
still love ground squirrels even if they do dig up our flowers, eat our bird food, and
burrow under the foundation of our house. Oh! And also, penguins.
I loveflowers and birds especially those that are red, yellow, orange, blue, white, brown
and a mixture of colors.
I love trees: little trees, big trees, fruit trees and shade trees.
I love our home and like to have people visit. We try to make our visitors happy and
comfortable and if they need anything we can't supply, we show them how to get
along without it!
I love the seeking Christians in our church or wherever they are.
I love to live in God's beautiful world. Every person and everything has a place. Even
if we don't like them.
Love goes on forever and ever.
Russell Warne
DOROTHY H. WILLIAMS
January 7, 1900 - December 26, 1997
WUJ JAMS, HARRY L. (T. 24; F.27) California, 24 School; Central N.Y., 28; So. Cal.-Ariz.,
(Apr.l) 62 Pasadena, First, Min. of Mem.; (Sept. 15) Whittier, First, Assoc.; 66-68 R'd.; PSW,
77 R'd. Died December 12,1983.
Dorothy Williams was born in Rochester, New
York, the fourth of five girls born to Ellen and Charles
Heinrich. She remembers the courage of her own
mother, who raised those five sisters through hard times,
including her husband's death in 1917. The older girls
were working by that time, but Dorothy had to leave
Syracuse University, where she had just started, to come
home and also help. She remembers her church and her
peer group in Campfire Girls as her most meaningful
relationships outside her family. She met Harry Williams in Rochester through her friend in Campfire Girls.
They courted for three years, and were married in 1921.
On Thanksgiving Day they had a family dinner after the
wedding ceremony and boarded a train to begin a new
life in California.
Harry's call to ministry brought them back to the Drew Seminary campus, where Dorothy
audited almost all of his courses so as to be a helpmate to him even in the academic challenges.
This was always my mother's most consistent role- -to be a steady help to her beloved Harry in
his ministries. They served in Central New York Conference for about 18 years, then the "Board
of Evangelism years" hi Nashville. In 1956, they followed their hearts back to California.
Dorothy was especially gratified when her only son, Bruce L. Williams, followed them to
California and lived near when he was Director of Communications under Bishop Gerald
Kennedy. Mother remained in San Clemente after Harry's death in 1983, until 1990, when she
moved to Dayton, Ohio to be near her daughter.
Her seven grandchildren and I remember her for her unflagging support of us all, and for
her courage in the face of greatly diminished sight and hearing for several years. She never lost
her sense of humor or her alert attention to details and significant events. She served wherever
she found herself, with integrity and love.
Winnie Thomas, daughter