Obituaries
Larry E. Evans, BDiv 1961, 89, died April 1, 2018. Mr. Evans was born in Blairs, Virginia on September 30, 1928 to the late N.C. and Elizabeth Evans. He was a long time member of Oakland United Methodist Church in Dry Fork, Virginia. Larry was a United Methodist pastor for 42 years. He married Pauline Goad in June, 1949. Mr. Evans is survived by his children Everette (Kathy) Evans and Patricia (Sonny) Burnett; siblings Carl Evans and Alice Evans; grandchildren Jeremy, Joshua, Rebecca and Patrick; great grandchildren: Reece, Jason, Seth, Junia and Emma.
Rev. Walter Daniel Jessup, BDiv 1948, age 94, recently relocated to Bristol, VA, went to be with his Lord peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at Christian Care Center of Bristol.Walter, the youngest of eleven children, was born February 21, 1924, in Guilford County, North Carolina. After graduating from high school, he attended God’s Bible School (Cincinnati, OH) and later transferred to Asbury College (Wilmore, KY) receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 1945. He continued his education at Appalachian State Teache rs College (Boone, NC) before attending Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY) receiving his Bachelor of Divinity in 1948. During his senior year at Asbury, he toured the eastern United States as the first tenor in the gospel quartet, “The Marbleheads.” It was during this tour that he was introduced to the game of golf. Although right-handed, he had to play with left-handed clubs. He played left-handed ever after, and golf became a lifelong avocation. After graduation he was ordained in the Methodist Church and served in the Florida Conference for fifty years. He served churches in Micanopy, Bronson, Archer, Crescent City, Jacksonville, Naples, Stuart, Golden Gate, Miami, Lake Worth, Sarasota, and Marco Island. He founded the North Naples United Methodist Church and built churches in Naples, North Naples, Sarasota, and Marco Island. In Florida, Walter became known as the “Golfing Minister.” While in Naples, he won the City and County Championships 11 years in a row. One o f the highlights of his amateur golf career occurred in 1958 when after 54 holes, he led in the National Left-handers tournament in Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, the last day of the tournament fell on Sunday. Walter chose never to play golf on Sundays, so he withdrew from the competition. Instead, he preached at a church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL that Sunday. A reporter covering the tournament attended the service and wired a copy of the entire sermon, “Christianity and Golf,” to “Sports Illustrated.” A story about Walter and a summary of the sermon were printed in the magazine. “Playing the game of life can be compared with playing the game of golf. … play the game with zest, joy, and gratitude, surrender your life to Christ, seek those basic principles of life which are taught in His word, worship regularly, and have a time of private devotions daily.”Walter loved golf, but his deepest passion was sharing Christ with others. He never met a stranger. One friend shared Walte r’s words: “When I go into restaurants or stores, I always know there is something more important there than what I want to buy.” This mindset allowed him to minister to everyone God put in his life. There were no “chance” encounters.After retiring he spent over 20 years at Lake Junaluska Assembly, NC. He then moved to Tulsa, OK and deeply enjoyed the fellowship of the Mariners class at Asbury United Methodist Church. Later he moved to Albany, GA where the Monk Thompson Sunday school class at First United Methodist became his church family. Walter was preceded in death by his father, Walter Dawson Jessup; his mother, Bessie Myrtle Dean; and his siblings; Bascom, Burton, Charles, Hugh, Robert, Steve, William, Edith J. Langley, Evelyn J. Brown, and Mabel J. Douglas.Walter is survived by his wife of 52 years, Virginia M. Jessup (Mathews); his two daughters by his first wife Ruth Smith Jarvis, Dolores Jessup and Mary Frances “Francy” Geiger; step-daughter, Glennda D. (Michael) Cleland; step-son, Dr. David C.(Paula) Duncan; granddaughters, Trisha Pancio Mead, Ileah Pancio Bodily, Christy Geiger Cocup, Megan Smith, Lori Niles, and Amy Olson; grandsons, David Cleland, Matthew Cleland, Andrew Cleland, Zachary Cleland, Mark Duncan, and Matthew Duncan; 11 great granddaughters; 7 great grandsons; and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
Charles Lee Self, DMin 1993, of Peyton, Colorado, went to be with the Lord on May 24, 2018 at the age of 67, having been born on August 24, 1950. A celebration of his life will be held at Eastborough Church of the Nazarene, 4123 E. Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO at 10:00 a.m. on June 9, 2018. Charles was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Johnny and Ethylene Self, where in his youth he fell in love with the Arkansas Razorbacks. In school, he was in the band and choir, with a love for music, and especially, playing the guitar. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served during the era of the Vietnam War. After finishing his service, and in preparation for the ministry, he attended Point Loma Nazarene College and Nazarene Theological Seminary. He served as lead pastor to churches in California, Arkansas, and Texas. While in Texas, he completed his Doctorate of Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. Nazarene Bible College was the place God called him next, and he served there from 2001 to 2018. During this stage in life, he found his favorite hobby to be photography and spent every possible moment taking pictures wherever he could point a camera lensWhile at Point Loma Nazarene College, he met the love of his life, Kathleen Parsons. They were married for 43 years and had two children together, Jennifer (James) Egan and Charles (Abby) Self, Jr. Charles Sr. is survived by his mother, Ethylene Self; Aunts, Imogene Bryant, Oweda Jones, and Pearl Jones; two brothers, Truman Self and Eugene Self; a sister, Karen West; numerous nieces and nephews; his wife, children, and 6 grandchildren; Logan, Leilani, Alexander, Oliver, Evelyn, and Charlotte, with one grandchild on the way.
Rev. Roy R. Straub, MDiv 1961, 92, went home to be with his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ on May 18, 2018 in Greenville, N.C.He was born in Hannibal, Ohio on May 14, 1926 to John and Mary Winkler Straub.He graduated from Hannibal High School in 1945 and The Ohio State University in 1949. Following graduation, he worked several years in banking and accounting.He married Winifred Simpson on July 29, 1955.In 1958, he answered God’s call to ministry by attending Asbury Theological Seminary and graduated in 1961. His first pastorate was at the Africa Wesleyan Church near Galena, Ohio. Later pastorates were at Avon Wesleyan Church and Grac e Lee Memorial Wesleyan Church in New York. In New York, he was active in the Central New York District of The Wesleyan Church serving on various boards and committees in the District and Camp Programs. Since retiring, in 1990, he and his wife have made their home in Greenville, N.C. After retirement, he served as interim pastor at First Wesleyan Church, Greenville, N.C. for three years. The Straub’s have considered it a great privilege to have been called by God to serve Him in these churches. Most recently he has been affiliated with the Oakmont Baptist Church where he continued to be active in the Path Finders Sunday school class.He was predeceased by his wife, Winifred, of 62 years; son, John; his parents; brothers, Wesley Straub, Samuel Straub; and sister, Anna Kernen.He is survived by his daughters, Linda (Bradford) White of Greenville, N.C.; grandchildren, Phillip, Janelle, and Jordan; Jane (Gregory) Whitaker of Corning, N.Y.; grandchildren, Kristin, Jonathan, and Ste phen; great grandchildren, Henry, Charlotte, and Owen. He is also survived by his brother, Emerson (Florence) Straub; sister-in-law, Janet Straub of Sardis, Ohio; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Daniel James Wakefield, MDiv 1991, age 66, of Terre Haute, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2018. He was born on January 29, 1952 to Carl O. and Hazel E. (Redding) Wakefield. Daniel graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. He was a minister for the United Methodist Church where he pastored several congregations. He also served his country in the United States Navy as a Chaplain’s Yeoman. He is survived by his wife of 7 years Mickey Wakefield; mother, Hazel E. Wakefield; daughters, Rachel (Paul) Short, Hilary (Mark) Smith, Rebekah Wakefield, Karen Wakefield, and mother to his daughters Wanda Wakefield; step-daughter, Ruby Sherschel; step-son, Ronald Brewer; brothers, Richard (Debbie) and Steven Wakefield; sister, Mary Lou (Jeff) Segla, Joyce Bradshaw and Glory Ann Dawkins; grandchildren, Angelina Symphonia Wakefield, Paul Arlen Short III, Aaron Xavier and Alaina Grace Guy, Zoey Isabella Wakefield, Hailey Brewer, Nick, Emily and Elyzabeth Wright, Jackie Bronson, Christopher and Rachel Smith; great-grandchildren, Ari-Renee and Aubrey Smith. He was preceded in death by his father, Carl Ora Wakefield.
Our sympathy is sent to the Straub family re: the loss of Rev. Roy, my friend, fellow pastor, and former
seminary-mate. May God truly comfort your hearts, and may even more yet be benefitted by his example and testimony.