Alumni Obituaries – August 2013
AUCHARD – Dr. V. Allen, (Non Graduating Alum), went to meet his Creator early Wednesday morning, June 12, 2013 at age 86 at Altercare of Bucyrus. He was born March 13, 1927, at his home in Lawrence, Kansas to the late Dr. Virgil Marion Auchard and Mildred (Coker) Auchard. On September 5, 1947, he married Jeanette (Hadl) Auchard in Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence and she survives. In addition to his wife of 65 years, he is survived by a son, Stephen Allen Auchard of Bucyrus and daughter, Annette (James) Holliday of Billings, Mont.; three grandchildren, Joshua and Adam of California and Jordan Marie of Billings; one brother, Dr. B. David (Carole) Auchard, formerly of Mansfield and now in Kansas; one sister, Adrienne (Robert) York of Iowa and three brothers-in-law, Dwight Jost, Gov. John Anderson and Richard Harris as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Allen was preceded in death by three sisters, Maurine Jost, Arlene Anderson and Rosemary Harris, Allen was a graduate of Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence in 1946, and of Friends University of Wichita, Kansas in 1951. Following graduation, Allen assisted the Friends U. Head Biology professor, Dr. H Ernest Crow with lectures while also serving the Mid U.S. Conference of Friends Churches as their Field Representative of Christian Youth. Dr. Auchard then attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky while serving as Pastor of Fall Creek Friends Church near Hillsboro, Ohio. Following his services as a Christian pastor, he attended The Ohio State University Graduate School and was accepted in the OSU Medical School, receiving his M.D. Degree in 1959. He served his Internship in Columbus at White Cross Hospital in 1960. After serving two requests of former Friends Churches in Southern Ohio and Texas near the Space Center, Dr. Auchard accepted the opportunity to practice in Bucyrus, where he delivered numerous babies and enjoyed his practice with many fine families and sharing an office with his Medical School classmate, Dr. G. Wesley Bowersock. Allen was a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Practice, Ohio State Medical Association, Crawford County Medical Association and Staff Member of Bucyrus Community Hospital, serving a term as Chief of Staff.
BOGGS, John Robert Jr. (1949, BD), 91, of Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 4:17 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was a United Methodist minister, starting his ministry with the church in 1944 and retiring in 1992. He pastored in Ohio, North Dakota, and Indiana. He started a live nativity at his church in Parker City, Indiana in 1960 that later moved to the local public school. In the early 1980’s, a granddaughter participated in the nativity, however the A.C.L.U. had stopped this practice and a younger granddaughter was not allowed to participate. Reverend Boggs also started a soup kitchen in Elkhart, Indiana. He was a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana, moving here in August 1987, and attended Atwood Christian Fellowship Church in Atwood, Indiana. In his lifetime he was able to travel to the Holy Land five times, and once to Russia. He was born on April 13, 1922 in Bremen, Georgia to John Robert Boggs, Sr. and Lola Gertrude (Posey) Boggs. On July 10, 1943 he was married to Maxine Ratcliff who preceded him in death in May 2000. He remarried on March 31, 2001 to Jodie (Miller) Kreider, who survives in Winona Lake, Indiana. He is also survived by two daughters, Carol (husband, James) VanPelt, of Redkey, Indiana, Barbara (husband, John) McMunn ,of Lambertville, Michigan; two step-daughters, Gerry (husband, Elmer) Compton of Silver Lake, Indiana, Ronda (husband, Steve) Gaston of Stedman, North Carolina; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and his sister, Martha Schaffer of Lancaster, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; one son; one daughter, and nine sisters.
LEDBETTER – Don Kelly (1966, MDiv), 83, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 11, 2013 at the Hospice Home in Burlington. He was born in Montgomery County to the late John and Stella Ledbetter and was the husband of more than 60 years to the late Catherine Helms Ledbetter. Rev. Dr. Ledbetter was a US Navy Veteran that served in the Korean War. He enjoyed playing golf but his most notable passion was preaching the gospel. He was a Wesleyan minister for over 50 years, pastoring at Brown Wesleyan Church for 20 years. He was the District Superintendent of the NC East District of the Wesleyan Church for 9 years. Dr. Ledbetter earned a number of degrees including his Ministerial Degree at Southern Pilgrim College, a BA in Philosophy and Religion at Greensboro College, a Master of Divinity at Asbury Seminary and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from Graduate Theological Foundation in Donaldson, IN. Survivors include his daughter, Nicole Harvell and husband, James of Gibsonville sons, Don Kelly Ledbetter and wife, Linny of Seneca, SC. And Jonathan Kip Ledbetter of Gibsonville grandchildren, Kelleigh Thomas, Kenton Ledbetter, Kaytee Harvell, Nickolas Harvell, Emily Harvell, Mason Ledbetter and a sister, Mary Frances Ledbetter of Troy, NC. He is preceded in death by his wife, parents brothers, Horace Ledbetter and John Ed Ledbetter and two sisters, Elizabeth Lemons and Katherine Suggs.
NELSON – Lowell E. (1965, BD), 86, of Findlay, OH, passed away at 5:53 p.m. on Monday, July 8, 2013 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay. He was born on December 29, 1926, to the late Lawrence A. and Jenny (Liddiard) Nelson in Chamberlin, SD. He married Vera Mae Nelson on February 8, 1948, and she preceded him in death on April 23, 2012. Lowell served his country proudly in the United States Air Force during WWII. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He served and retired as a United Methodist Church Minister, pastoring at the Minnesota Lake, MN, U.M.C., Mount Orab, OH, U.M.C., Leipsic U.M.C., Van Wert OH, Trinity U.M.C. and Columbus, OH, Maize Manor U.M.C. He was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, Findlay. Lowell devoted his life to his ministry in the United Methodist Church and considered his wife, Vera, an integral part of his ministry. After retirement he was active with the Hancock Christian Clearing House, taught Sunday School and hosted weekly Bible study in his home.Lowell is survived by four of his children: Christine (Dan Carter) Nelson of Portland, OR, Douglas Dean (Cathy) Nelson of Springfield, OR, James Dale (Jenny) Nelson of Van Wert, OH, and Stephen (Beth) Nelson of Findlay; daughter-in-law, Karen Nelson of Ashland, OR; brother, Kenneth Nelson of Birmingham, AL; nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Lowell was also preceded in death by his son, David Lee Nelson; brother, Ralph Nelson; and sister, Irene Dahlen.
SANDERS -Marvin, (1987, MAR), beloved husband, father, friend and mentor to many in Christian Ministry, left the bounds of this world to the world he had seen by faith on the morning of June 20, 2013. He was born in Lawton, OK and moved to Texas as soon as he could, he was a lifelong Texan no matter where he lived throughout his life. He was born again at the age of 21 under the preaching of the Gospel and the prayers of a godly mother. His direction was forever set to give his life to the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his future wife, Pat, were baptized in the same service, and after being married, both served churches in the states of Texas, Kentucky, New Mexico, and Ohio for 50 years. Marvin and Pat were a team as they served God together and raised a family. There are many lives throughout the U.S. and the world that were impacted by Marvin and Pat’s lives and ministry. Marvin proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged. He was the first person in his family to attend college by the resources made available to him through the G.I. Bill. Marvin began his higher education by attending San Angelo Junior College and then graduating from Gulf-Coast Bible College. Marvin went on to earn a Master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, and because of Marvin’s lifelong contribution to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his service to the Church of God, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Mid-America Christian University. Marvin is survived by his wife of 61 years, Pat, son, Cliff and wife Becky, son, Mike and wife Lottie, daughter, Lisa and husband Jeremy, and granddaughters, Sierra and Savannah, brother, Paul Sanders and sister, Doris Collins. The family wants to give special thanks to Mercy Hospice. Delores and Katie were constant in their attention and care of Marvin and were welcome guests in our home. We could not have gone through this experience without their professional and deeply personal care.