Alumni Obituaries, June 2013
CROOP-Bertram M. (1954, BD), 90, died peacefully on April 21, 2013. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Betty son Edward Croop daughter Julie (Perry) Stephan brother Neal (Doris) Croop sister Ethel (Stan) Bird five grandchildren ten great-grandchildren several nieces and nephews. Bertram was a native of Buffalo, NY and a graduate of Bennett High. During WW II he was a riveter at Bell Aircraft. He was a dedicated newspaper delivery boy of the Buffalo Evening News. He graduated from Gordon College in MA and Asbury Seminary, KY. Rev. Croop pastored twelve churches and retired from the Rush United Methodist Church. He lead many Youth Camps at Silverlake. He also received an award for 60 years in the ministry from the Upper New York Conference. He was an active Rotarian and received the Paul Harris award. He sang in the Warsaw Barber Shoppers, and many church choirs.
JONES III-Harris Cleveland (1957, MDiv), 78, passed from this earth to his heavenly home on May 12, 2013, in Nic ville, Fla. He was born on July 8, 1934, in Hattiesburg, Miss., to Harris C. Jones Jr. and Emma Finney Jones. He attended Camp Elementary School and graduated Hattiesburg High School in 1952, where he met his high school sweetheart, Myrtle M. Morris, and whom he later married on March 12, 1954. Harris and Myrtle were fortunate to be a part of a strong Methodist heritage and were very active in the early 50’s as a part of what was Broad Street UMC and is now Heritage UMC. Harris was saved and came to the Lord at the Methodist Church youth camp near Lake Shelby during those years at Hattiesburg High School. God touched and called Harris to begin his career at the youthful age of 17. Harris preached at various churches in the area and served the Dixie UMC near Hattiesburg while completing his undergraduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion and Philosophy, as well as Sociology. Harris further advanced his schooling with a master’s degree in Theology from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., May of 1957. Later that same year, Harris was ordained as a Methodist pastor with the Alabama-West Florida Conference and served numerous churches throughout the Southeast and around the country. Harris’s ministry touched countless lives and in many ways, his ministry reached world wide during his 60 plus years of service. Harris also served God thrrough his work in prison ministry. Harris served several years with the General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC where he directed stewardship campaign programs nationally to assist churches with their budgets, financial planning and building needs. Harris was a strong proponent of the biblical concept of tithing and beyond. Harris is survived by his wife, Myrtle, of 59 years and by his three children and their spouses Lori Elise and Michael Dobbs, Andrew Newman and Rebecca Jones, and Harris Cleveland IV and Renee Jones. He is also survived by his grandchildren and their spouses, Jake (Kari) Dobbs, Kacey (Erik) Anderson, Aubrey and Allison Schwartz, Drew Jones, Stacy (Donnie) Johnson, Wayne and Bo McCullough and his great-grandchildren, Kinsley and Addison Dobbs, and Tyler and Delaney Johnson. Harris was a committed and faithful husband and father giving his children their first glimpse of God’s infinite love. He was a rock to them and a light unto their path, still shining brightly in Heaven. He enjoyed a long and wonderful life serving his Savior. His many friends (clergy and laity) and family loved ones serve as witness to his first and truest love of Jesus Christ for His Kingdom. Harris Cleveland Jones III was a true man of God and is an angel serving now in Heaven. He will be missed by all.
HARDMAN-Bethany (2011, MA), 29, wife of Randall G. “Randy” Hardman, started her new beginning on Thursday, May 9, due to injuries she suffered in a traffic accident. She leaves her memory in the care of her husband Randy, their children Noah Steven and Lillian Patricia Anne, her parents David and Laura Hunter, mother and father-in-law Stephen and Cheryl Hardman, and maternal grandparents Harry and Anna Stevenson. In addition she will be missed by her brothers Jeremy Hunter, wife Joanna, Andrew, Jonathan, and Joel Hunter, sister-in-law Rebecca Hardman, brothers-in-law Justin and Jason Hardman as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Bethany was employed by Avenues For Women (crisis pregnacies) as Director of Client Services and was active with Bethany Christian Services. She was very passionate about both agencies and enjoyed her work tremendously. Bethany was a great Mom and wife, loved people, her Church, going to school and 90’s music. She could be called the ultimate caregiver.
HARTMAN-B. Gerald (1952, MDiv), 87, was called HOME to HEAVEN unexpectedly on Saturday, April 27 following a heart attack. Gerry heard Jesus say, “WELCOME HOME, GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT, ENTER into the JOY of your LORD and SAVIOR!” Gerry was born in Osborne, KS, to Myrtle & John Hartman, the first of 5 children. He grew up on a farm in the dust bowl era. At the age of nine, he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior at a Youth Revival in KS. The family later moved to the central valley of California. Gerry graduated from High School in Turlock, CA; attended and graduated from Seattle Pacific College (later became Seattle Pacific University). He felt a calling to the Ministry and attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY, graduating in 1952. He met Ruth Kiefhaber whom he later married. Gerry earned a Doctorate in Counseling at Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo, MI. He served as pastor at Free Methodist Churches in Silver Spring, MD, and in Michigan at Coldwater, Ann Arbor, Niles, Kalamazoo, and Watervliet. For 17 years he worked in Drug & Alcohol Counseling at V.A. Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich. Gerry and Ruth served managing a Mission Guest House in Bukavu, Zaire, Africa from 1989-1991. After returning from Africa they settled in Boise, ID in 1992 where he served as Associate Pastor of New Heights Christian Fellowship. Throughout his ministry he was involved in leadership of church building programs and counseling ministry, active in ongoing support of Missions. Gerry was proud of his four children & spouses, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild on the way. He was a wonderful family man. They fondly remember many family trips while growing up and precious times spent at the family cabin in McCall. We all remember his love of gardening and the beautiful gardens he cultivated throughout the years. His children appreciated his love and guidance while growing up and as adults. The four children and their spouses are actively involved in helping professions in their communities. Gerry lived a life of Grace, Compassion, Kindness, and Wisdom toward others in all relationships. He is survived by his wife Ruth of 60 years, 3 sons and a daughter, Dan & Marty of Shoreline, WA, Dale and Renee of Mukilteo, WA, David and Nancy of Boise, Donna and David Jacobsson Missionaries in Africa; 2 sisters, Delores Simmons, Mary Smith & brother Robert all in WA.; his sister Joan preceded him in death.
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