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Alumni Obituaries February 2017

Published Date: February 1, 2017

Dr. Willard Jacob Pannabecker, B.Div., 1967, 77, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 24, 2016 in Austin, Texas. He was born August 26, 1939 to Rev. Ray and Dortha Pannabecker in Yale, Michigan. Will was a clinical psychologist and ordained minister whose career spanned more than 40 years. He was a graduate of Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin, Asbury Theological Seminary and Bethel College. His career included positions in community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, private practice and 12 years as Director of Health and Counseling at St. Edward’s University. Will held adjunct or allied health credentials at a variety of colleges and universities, including Baylor University, UT-Austin and Penn State University. In retirement, Will enjoyed working in the yard with his wife of 20 years, walking their dogs and spending time with his grandchildren. Will is survived by his wife Barbara Pannabecker; children Lea Smith, Rodney Pannabecker and Marcia Oakes; step-children Jennifer Evans, Charles Verdict and Gregory Verdict; grandchildren Alexandria, Anne Marie, Emily, Avery, Charlie, Caroline, Catherine and Sebastian; siblings Esther Matteson, Calvin Pannabecker, Delora Craig and Mariette Hayden, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Jacob.


Rev. Garry O. Parker, M.Div., 1968, 74, went to be with the Lord on December 17, 2016 in Easton, MD.  From a solitary upbringing moving around the country as a child, to a shepherding missionary taking part in a global family, Garry was called by God to live a missional life.  He received his call to ministry and missions while in high school, and later attended Taylor University.  Garry dedicated his Taylor summers to international missions with Operation Mobilization. Upon graduation from Taylor University, Garry attended Asbury Theological Seminary and met and married the love of his life, Sarah, attending Asbury College “across the street”; they married June 10, 1967.
Serving churches in the Peninsula Annual Conference, Garry became fully ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1969. Garry and Sarah served as missionaries in Indonesia with OMS International and later in El Salvador, pastored churches in five states, and ministered and preached in 30 countries.  He pursued doctoral studies in missiology at Princeton Theological Seminary focusing on the great Methodist missionary, Bishop William Taylor.  Later in life, Garry worked with tribal peoples across Southeast Asia; he retired from the United Methodist church in 2003 after 35 years of service.  Garry is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sarah, daughters Beth Parker-Sloat, (Kevin Sloat) and Becky (Cecil Bishoff), and three grandchildren.

Reverend J. L. Penfold, M.Div., 1977, 71, of Greeley passed away at his home on January 10, 2017 surrounded by family. He was born on April 5, 1945 in Denver, CO to James Leslie and Karmen “Kay” Jean (Sauer) Penfold, Jr. and was proud to be a fifth generation native of Colorado with deep roots. He grew up in Fort Lupton and graduated high school in 1963, then graduated from CSU with a degree in Entomology, UNC with a Masters of History and then attended Asbury Theological Seminary, graduating with a Masters of Divinity. J. L. married Marian Kay Spurgeon on December 31, 1970 in Knoxville, Illinois. He worked for the State of Colorado for a few years before beginning his ministry in 1977. For over thirty years, he served multiple United Methodist churches of all sizes in Colorado, Florida, and Illinois including Eaton United Methodist Church. J. L. served St. Paul’s Congregational Church for three and half years where he concluded his formal ministry in 2012. J. L. was a servant of God. He loved serving others and God’s church and continued to be involved in ministry at Timberline Windsor in retirement. J. L. was passionate about history, politics, reading, writing, blogging, and enjoyed sports and fishing but mostly enjoyed time with his family who all reside locally. Survivors include his wife, Marian of Greeley; parents, Jim and Kay Penfold of Greeley; children, Amy Penfold of Greeley, James (Cari) Penfold and David (Megan) Penfold all of Windsor; grandchildren, Stella, Vivienne, Scarlett, Chance, Aubri, Avery and Bennett Penfold; brothers, Gordon (Beth) Penfold of Eaton and Greg (Meredith) Penfold of Rock Springs, WY as well as nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Mery M. Wittbrodt, B.Div., 1955, 92, of Ann Arbor, MI, Mery was born on March 15, 1924.  She is survived by her sister, Vilma Spies, husband Donald Arthur Wittbrodt, two children:  Deborah (Gary) Nystrom, of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Donald Wittbrodt Jr., of Winchester, KY, and three grandchildren:  Janelle Nystrom, Ian Nystrom, and Donald (Donnie) Wittbrodt III and niece Lilian Spies of Moron, Buenos Aires, Argentina.  She was the eldest daughter of pastors Jose and America Diciancia Quinones, of Buenos Aires.  Mery received a teaching degree from Normal Teachers’ School in her teens.  Under the tutelage of her father, her first sermon was preached at the age of 16.  Mery completed studies at Medical Science University in Rosario, Argentina with a specialization in Biochemistry and Pharmacy.  She took a break to tour Europe for a year as a delegate to the World Congress of the Student Christian Movement (SCM).  She spoke multiple languages including French, which she used visiting refugee homes in France.  In Switzerland, due to a SCM scholarship to the Ecumenical Institute, she studied the Bible, the world, and the Church, with a specialization in youth movements.  In 1952 Mery received a scholarship to Asbury Theological Seminary.  While sailing to North America, Norwegians helped Mery learn English.  She completed a Bachelor’s of Divinity degree in 1955.  She then married Donald Arthur Wittbrodt, also a seminary student, in 1956, and they had two children: Deborah (Gary) Nystrom and Donald Wittbrodt Jr.  Mery taught in Chemistry and science in the public schools as husband Rev. Donald Wittbrodt served churches mostly in Michigan.  Mery continued her Christian work focusing on international missions and also Michigan migrant families.  In the late 1960s, she also received a MA degree in teaching and science from the University of Michigan.  She retired from many years of loving service as a Chemistry and science teacher, including 20 years at Madison Public Schools, near Adrian, Michigan.  Her students reported great success in science at the university level due to her teaching work.  Mery was a positive, endearing soul who loved the Lord and brightened the lives of all those around her.  Most recently at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, she participated in the prayer chain ministry and shared her passion for missions over many years.

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