Alumni Obituaries – August 2014
Paul S. Amos, (2004, DDiv) 88, who with his two brothers founded Aflac Incorporated nearly six decades ago, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2014, after a lengthy illness. He was born April 23, 1926 in Enterprise, Ala. the son of the late John Shelby and Helen Mullins Amos. Mr. Amos was raised in Enterprise, Ala. and Milton, Fla. He and his wife, the former Jean Roberts, met in church when she was just 17 years old and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in October of last year. The couple’s only child, Daniel P. Amos, is Aflac’s current chairman and CEO. The Amos brothers founded Aflac in 1955 and, in its first year of business, the company had 6,426 policyholders and $388,000 in assets. Today, it is a Fortune 500 company with more than $121 billion in assets and insures more than 50 million people worldwide. Aflac is the leading provider of supplemental insurance products and pays cash directly to policyholders to use as needed. During his long tenure at Aflac, Mr. Amos held numerous positions, both at corporate headquarters and as a hands-on member of the sales force. He served as state sales manager for Alabama/West Florida, first vice president/director of marketing, president, vice chairman and chairman. Although he retired in 2001, he remained a familiar figure at Aflac and loved to be among the employees and sales team members who continued the company’s legacy. Amos, who continued to make daily visits to Aflac’s offices in Columbus, Ga., and served as Chairman Emeritus, was beloved by the insurer’s more than 8,000 employees and 185,000 agents worldwide. He was known affectionately throughout the company as “Mr. Paul.” In addition to helping build the world’s largest supplemental insurance company, Amos established a quiet history of philanthropy and community service. Through anonymous donations and the endowment of educational funds and scholarship programs, he and Jean touched thousands of lives with major financial commitments. Their efforts included the Paul and Jean Amos Educational Fund at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky.; the Paul S. Amos Family Foundation at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga.; the Scholarship Fund at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky.; and many unheralded contributions to those in need. Amos received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Cumberland College in May 2001. Columbus State University honored him with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree in May 2002. In 2004, Amos received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Asbury Theological Seminary. Amos is survived by his wife, Jean; their son Daniel P. Amos and his wife Kathelen; two grandchildren, Lauren Amos and her husband Tyler Clayton, and Paul S. Amos II and his wife, Courtney; and four great-grandchildren, Dan Amos, Mansell Amos, Knox Amos and Eden Amos.
The Rev. Lloyd Bumpus, (1952, BD) 92, died Thursday, May 22, 2014, at home. His wife, Kathleen, survives him.
Dr. J.B. Crouse, (1958, BD) 81, passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2014. Dr. Crouse was a 1955 graduate of Asbury University and president emeritus of One Mission Society. Crouse — who along with his wife and fellow Asbury graduate, Bette, gave leadership to OMS since the late 1950s — spent much of his mission career in Korea. Among his first assignments was to work for the World Relief Commission to help this Asian nation rebuild from the effects of the Korean Conflict. His work was recognized with the Presidential Civil Merit award. From 1972 to 1986, Crouse directed evangelism programs in schools, military bases and vast apartment communities in Seoul. In 1986, he was named OMS’s field director in Korea, in time to direct a coordinated evangelism effort during the Seoul Olympics in 1988. In 1992, with J.B.’s election to the presidency of OMS International and Bette’s appointment as assistant to the president, the Crouses’ work expanded beyond the borders of Southeast Asia to the world. During his tenure as president, OMS’s ministries expanded from 14 countries to 42 with efforts in evangelism, church planting, theological training and outreach. As compelling as the numbers that describe the Crouse’s ministry is their impression on the many individual lives they’ve impacted. If J.B. said he would pray for someone, he would — often on the spot — and his ministry through music has encouraged God’s people on continents around the world. A man of vision and faithfulness, J.B. Crouse was committed to sharing the gospel with people from all walks of life, from refugees to heads of state. J.B. is also a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, and Bette earned a master of nursing degree from Yale University. Crouse is survived by his wife and three sons (Jay, John and Steve), all graduates of Asbury University.“ J.B. was a man of vision and faithful service who had a heart for impacting the world for Christ,” said Asbury University President Sandra Gray. “He finished well and actively ministered until the time of his passing. He was beloved by many, around the world, and we rejoice in the knowledge that his faith is now sight.”