Obituaries
Rev. Daniel L. Dennis, MDiv 1979, 67, of Carlisle, a native of rural Shickshinny, died unexpectedly on Friday, March 29, 2019, at his Carlisle home. He was born March 20, 1952, at the Nanticoke Hospital, a son of Derl L. Dennis of rural Shickshinny and the late Carmen J. (Fritz) Dennis who died July 3, 2005. Rev. Dennis was a 1970 graduate of the Northwest Area High School, a 1974 graduate of Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. He then earned his masters of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1979. He also studied at the American Institute of Holy Land Studies in Israel for 10 weeks and in 1985 addressed more than 20,000 Boy Scouts as the Protestant Chaplain at the Boy Scout National Jamboree. He was awarded the Cross and Flame award from Boy Scout Troop No.17. His career spanned 43 years as a United Methodist Minister. In 2007, he began his pastorate at Otterbein United Methodist Church until his retirement on July 1, 2018. While at Otterbein, in 2014, he was instrumental with the “Bright Beginnings Child Care” program at the church. He also pastored churches in Port Trevorton and Berwick before being appointed District Superintendent, (York district), a post he held for six years. He oversaw 70 churches with more than 20,000 members. Rev. Dennis received the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism, traveled to central Mexico on three mission trips, served as an emergency medical technician for 12 years, served on the American Red Cross, YMCA and United Methodist Children’s Home in Mechanicsburg boards, and officiated at more than 300 weddings and 500 funerals. He enjoyed antique shows and auctions and attending musical performances. In addition to his father, he is survived by his long time acquaintances and special friends, Doloris Kittle, Mary Jane Ulsch, Dennis Frymoyer and Joe Kugel as well as numerous cousins.
Mildred Ann Doughton, 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Tucker, Georgia on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Mildred Ann was born in the rural community of Sydnorsville, Virginia (now Rocky Mount) to Doctor Munsey Ramsey and Mattie Irene Ramsey on December 28, 1929. She was the third youngest of 12 children. Her brothers and sisters, who called her Milly, have all predeceased her except for the baby sister, Nancy Turner, who still resides in Rocky Mount, Virginia. She was married to Charlie James Doughton for 61 years. They built a home in Rocky Mount on family land and had three children: Cheryl Ann, Gary Lee, and Susan Renea. Milly completed secretarial training post high school but chose to spend her time running a busy household. She was close to her parents, and even shared a homemade cake business with her mother. They were well known for their amazing fresh coconut cakes. When Charlie felt called into ministry, Milly graciously gave up her home, reliable income, and proximity to family to follow his calling to Wilmore, Kentucky on the faith that God would provide. She worked as a secretary at Asbury Theological Seminary and without hesitation, provided the family income and care. The ministry eventually led the family to Marietta, Georgia, where Milly worked at Jackson and King Realty as a secretary where she became known as Ann because the other secretary was named Mildred. Mr. BB King was impressed by her talent and encouraged her to become a real estate agent. She was passionate and successful in real estate sales and secured a well-funded retirement for the couple by investing in rental houses. She served with Charlie at many churches in the North Georgia United Methodist Conference. The couple met many wonderful people and enjoyed great friendships in the ministry. They retired to Kennesaw, Georgia and became members of County Line United Methodist in the nearby city of Acworth. Charlie and Ann traveled in their motor home and wintered in Florida where they enjoyed new friends. They were tent holders and attended the Marietta Camp meeting for many years. Charlie passed away in January of 2012 and Ann resided in Senior living where she found meaningful friendships and enjoyable activities. Her last residence was Phoenix of Tucker where she was the beneficiary of the loving staff and caring friends. Ann is known for her sweet smile and agreeable personality. Her children remember her for her tenacious spirit and hard- working determination. She expressed her love by her service to others. She found great joy in her grandchildren John III, James, Eric, Katie, Ramsey/Rachael and Lacey.
Dr. Philip E. Duvall, 82. Dr. Duvall was born on January 21, 1937 and passed on March 22, 2019 leaving to mourn family and friends.
Reverend Dr. Billy Frank Gerald, 87 long time resident of Brookhaven, MS, passed away peacefully in his home on April 11th. He leaves behind his wife of 66 years, Fay Ivey Gerald, and their six children: Judy Ratcliff (Scott), Larry Gerald (Delores Myers), Cindy Smith (Oscar), Keith Gerald (Aimee), James Gerald (Emily Dabney), and Sharon Gerald. The family also includes 14 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Born August 19th, 1931, in Greene County, MS, to Claude Frank and Rosa Holder Gerald, Dr. Gerald was the third of eleven children. He joins his parents in the Promised Land, along with his siblings Gayle, Nell, Sam, and Ben. His surviving siblings are John, Ralph, Patricia, Paul, Sandra, and Darlene. Ordained as a minister on December 4th, 1949 by the Methodist Protestant Conference of Mississippi, Dr. Gerald attended Kletzing College at University Park, Iowa, Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Additionally, he held a lifetime teaching certification in secondary education from the State of Mississippi. As a minister, he pastored 18 different churches during his career, planted 4 Methodist Protestant churches, and founded several independent Methodist congregations. His ministry included 3 years as President of the Methodist Protestant Conference of Mississippi, 8 years on the Board of Religious Education for the General Conference as well as 6 years on the Board of Missions. He served for 10 years on the Board of the World Gospel Mission from 2000 to 2010. As an educator, he taught and served as an administrator in several high schools around the state, but he is most remembered for his years at Whitworth College in Brookhaven, MS. There, from 1960 to 1976 as first Dean and then President, he helped mold the next generation of both preachers and teachers, raised children, and become a member of the community he loved. Many in Brookhaven will also remember him as the owner of the WCHJ and WBKN radio stations. Most importantly, as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he showered everyone with love, lived the example we were to follow, and shared his deep devotion to God. We followed him as he whistled gospel tunes, walked in his footsteps in the fresh tilled soil of his garden, and counted pine trees with him in the woods of south Mississippi. His love of growing things was so great that the Lincoln County and Southwest Districts of the Mississippi Forestry Association both recognized him as the 2013 Tree Farmer of the Year. In their words, there were planters with more trees, but he was the only one that knew them all by name.
Wing Fun Chow, MA in Biblical Studies, age 87, of Colerain Township, Ohio passed away on Tuesday, August 29, 2017. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 18, 1930 to Chin Chow and Wong She. He was preceded in death by his parents. Wing is survived by his beloved wife, Paula J. Chow (nee Williams); sons, Tim W. Chow, Stephen P. (Robin) Chow, Michael W. Chow, Matthew Fun Chow; step-daughters, Dena J. (Steve) Buchanan, Donna L. Kroger, Linda S. Sears; 12 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sisters, Suey Wong, Ngun Louie; and a host of other family members and friends.
Chaplain George K. Norton, BDiv 1962, aged 89, passed away on March 5, 2019. He was a retired Major Army Chaplain. Survived by: Virgie Eames Norton (wife of 15 years), 3 children: Nancy Sedloff (husband Robert), Ruth Rogers (husband Rick) and Stepson Wayne Eames (wife Jeania), 8 grandchildren: Lisa Brown (husband Chris), Jimmie Rogers (wife Ashley), Steven Norton, Laura Warren (husband Russell), Bryan Rogers, Julie Budd (fiancé Brock Girtman), Daniel Norton, Ethan Eames, along with: 11 great grandchildren: Katie Brown, Alex Warren, Nathan Brown, Shea Rogers, Payton Rogers, Andrew Budd, Olivia Warren, Emma Rogers, Kylie Rogers, Mackenzie Rogers, Owen Warren and his beloved dog Howdy. Preceded in death by Lucille Norton (wife of 54 years), sons George Morgan Norton, Charles Eames and Stevie Eames. He lived for the Lord, served his Country and loved his family. He had a great sense of humor, a repertoire of crazy jokes, and had a giving heart to friends and strangers. He enjoyed fishing, especially in the Adirondack Mountains and enjoyed many cruises with Virgie. His last gift to his family was to ensure they had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior so they might have eternal life and be reunited.
Reverend Steve Aaron Rascoe, Sr., MDiv 1983, 63, passed away on November 17, 2018 at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, Panama City, FL. Steve was born in Coco Solo Panama Canal, Panama on May 1, 1955 to the parents of Walter Joe and Betty Joyce Rascoe, and was raised in Pensacola, FL. Steve had been a resident of Panama City, FL as the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church since 2011. Steve attended Asbury College and Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, receiving a degree in Masters of Divinity. He began his ministry at Lafayette Street United Methodist Church (UMC) in Dothan, AL ser ving 2 years as Associate Pastor. He then served as Senior Pastor at Frisco City UMC for 4 years, followed by Rosinton UMC for 6 years, Park Memorial UMC for 13 years, then Daphne UMC for 3 years before moving to First United Methodist Church of Panama City, FL. Rev. Steve was involved with the Bay County Sherriff’s Office as a Chaplain, Board Member of The Ark in Panama City Beach, FL, and helped with the formation of Celebrate Recovery. His radiant smile and heart to serve others radiated love for his Lord, family, friends and community. Rev. Rascoe is preceded in death by his mother, Betty Wolfe Rascoe and foster son, Anthony Romanczuk. Rev. Rascoe is survived by his wife of 43 years, Janet Carol Mortensen Rascoe of Panama City, FL and their children Steve ‘Aaron’ Jr (Amanda) of Enterprise, AL and Rachel of Panama City, FL; grandchildren Steve Aaron ‘Tripp’ III, Allie Elizabeth and Madison Kate of Enterprise, AL; and foster son Jonathon Whittico of Mobile, AL. He is also survived by his father Walter Joe Rascoe (Wanda) of Pensacola, FL, sister Debra Bourne (Mike) of Cantonment, FL and brother Mark Rascoe (Denise) of Fayetteville, TN. Nephews Chris Bourne (Melissa) of Milton, FL, Greg Bourne (Danielle) of St. Petersburg, FL, Sean Rascoe & niece Sabrina Rascoe of Fayetteville, TN.
Russell L. Rossdeutscher, BDiv 1958, passed away at home on Aug. 30, 2018, with family by his side.
Dr. Kenneth D. Tollefson, MDiv 1961, 83, was born on October 26, 1935 in Cedar Falls, Iowa and passed away on November 20, 2018 in Shoreline, Washington. He was the fourth of five sons of Willard and Ruth Tollefson. Ken met Ruth Martin of Kansas, during college and they married on August 20, 1955. Ken earned a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kentucky) in 1961. He pastored a Free Methodist church in Norman, Oklahoma, before being called to study anthropology, completing a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in June of 1965. A couple months later, Ken, Ruth, and daughter, Susan Jo, moved to Seattle where Ken was hired to fill two roles at Seattle Pacific College – professor of anthropology and the Resident Life Coordinator (RLC) for the men of Hill Hall. In November 1965, Ken’s second daughter, Kenda Ruth was born. Soon after arriving on campus, Ken began working on his doctorate at the University of Washington. Research for his dissertation, titled, The Cultural Foundation of Political Revitalization among the Tlingit, took Ken to Angoon, Alaska, a remote island village in Southeast Alaska. A few years later, in appreciation of his growing involvement and leadership within that community, a potlatch was thrown in Ken’s honor where he was adopted as a Tlingit tribal member and given the name, Hiyash. Ken was in a unique position to intertwine his theological training with his anthropological studies and was committed to his scholarship in both disciplines throughout his life. He spent several years of intensive study in two books of the Bible. The first book he focused on was Nehemiah where Ken developed insights into what it means to assist people in meeting their physical needs as well as restructuring cultural systems to meet spiritual needs. He was honored as the Winifred Weter lecturer at SPU, where he first presented his analysis of Nehemiah: Agent of Change. Later, Ken joined forces with fellow biblical scholar H.G.M. Williamson, to publish Nehemiah as Cultural Revitalization: An Anthropological Perspective. His insight into Nehemiah was used by other institutions as a guide for training missionaries. From his study of the Epistle of James came a profound sense of what it means to be a maturing Christian. His studies provided insight into what is expected from someone seeking to be a “scholar servant,” and Ken became a leader on campus by guiding his colleagues through what should be expected of educators at SPU. In addition to his many vocational accomplishments, Ken enjoyed hiking with friends, fishing, sports, and spending time with his extended family. He is survived by daughters Susan (Tollefson) Siverson ’81, current budget manager for the SPU School of Education; Kenda (Tollefson) Gatlin ’88, current registrar of SPU; and grandchildren/their spouses, all of whom attended SPU: Eric Siverson ’09, Katie (Jeffris) Siverson ’06, Trent Siverson ’10, Heather (McFarland) Siverson ’13, Scott Siverson, Sarah Siverson, Julie Gatlin ’19, and Nathan Gatlin ’20.
Robert Harold Weedman, MDiv 1976, age 73 of Highview was born November 5, 1939 to the late Robert S. and Minnie Mae Raeuchle Weedman and returned to his Heavenly Father April 26, 2013. Mr. Weedman was a member of Foundation of Life Ministries, a U.S. Navy veteran and a retired electronic technician. Among those who preceded him in death include his parents; grandchildren, Taylor and Zoe Weedman; brothers, Charles and John D. Weedman. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 48 years, Virginia Willis Weedman; son, Timothy Weedman and his wife, Lavonda; brothers, Ronald and William Weedman; grandchildren, Ashley, Isaac, Ruth and Shekinah Weedman; a host of other family and friends.
Aaron Wilkerson, 28, went to be with the Lord, Monday, April 1, 2019. He was born on November 7, 1990 in Town and Country, Missouri to George and Connie Wilkerson. Aaron graduated from Pulaski Academy and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Dallas. He was the owner of Middle Matters Food Truck and worked as a Chef in numerous restaurants. As those that knew him can attest, Aaron was always smiling and making everyone around him feel special. Sadly, he wasn’t always able to do that for himself. Aaron specifically stated that he didn’t view this as defeat, but as a chance to go be with UP and AJ and to watch over the rest of us until we rejoin him in heaven. His understanding of this, even at such a desperate moment, gives the family some comfort. Him making the effort to ensure we know that was just Aaron. Aaron dearly loved spending time with his family and giving “Mommy” big huge bear hugs. Everyone got nicknames, including “Sarita” and “Ding-Ling”. He was passionate about his cooking, enjoyed fishing and hunting with special friends or “The Dub” and snowboarding and hiking were his favorite ways to enjoy nature. Stories about all of those are too numerous to list and too happy to appear here. He will be missed as much as he loved. Aaron was preceded in death by his aunt and uncle, whom he dearly loved; Rev. Pat and Jamie Wilkerson, his grandmother, Yvonne Cooper and his Aunt Helen Albright. He is survived by his parents; George and Connie Wilkerson; two siblings; Sarah Wilkerson and Staff Sergeant Chance Wilkerson (Hillary), grandparents; Rev. Joe and Patty Wilkerson, Billy Cooper, uncles; Dennis Cooper and Donnie Wilkerson.
so precious and so alive lovely young man ，how much would those whoknew him will really Miss 进 deeply& heartl y fordear p re ci ou s A a ron ..