Obituaries
The Rev. John Edward Chandler, BDiv 1962, beloved husband, father, friend, pastor and teacher, died January 19, 2018 in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. He was born in 1927 near Peterman, Alabama to John T. and Ida Downs Chandler. He attended school in Monroeville, AL until the 9th grade, when he dropped out of school to support his large family due to his father’s disability. In 1949, he married his life partner and help-mate, Sylvia Craft. The prayers of his wife, along with a life-threatening illness, led him to Beulah Camp Meeting where he was wonderfully converted on July 9, 1954. When God later called him into ministry, he completed his GED, his B.A. at Asbury College, and his M.Div. at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. During his years of ministry in the Methodist Church, he served churches in in Graefenberg, KY, Newton, Louisville, Pine Grove-Beulah, Mobile, and Butler, AL and Pensacola and Niceville, FL. He retired as Senior Pastor of the Niceville United Methodist Church (Crosspoint) in 1998, but stayed on staff as a counselor. He loved preaching, teaching and living God’s Word, and seeing lives transformed through the grace of God. He had a heart for mentoring young pastors and helping them obtain education through Asbury University and Asbury Seminary. Ed Chandler is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sylvia, and by his three children, Wanda (Roy) Pumphrey, Sharon Junco, and John Chandler; three grandchildren, Cara Pumphrey (Angelo) Miller, Graham (Amy Audetat) Pumphrey, and Danielle Chandler; great-grandchildren Lillian, Hannah-Elaine, Aaron and Eliora Miller, a nd Reid Pumphrey. He is also survived by siblings Marguerite (Harold) Morris, Tommy (Ann) Chandler, Roger (Nancy) Chandler, Cecil (Delores) Chandler, sisters-in-law Rachel Chandler and Bonnie Chandler, and a host of nieces and nephews. He loved and prayed for them all. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers Woodrow, Brady, Marcus and Troy Chandler. In lieu of flowers, gifts are suggested to The Asbury Seminary Foundation, 3027 Fellowship Lane, Pace FL 32571.
Reverend Brian Davis, MDiv 1993, age 53 of Winder, passed away Friday, June 30, 2017. He was of the Methodist faith and the pastor of Pentecost and Corinth United Methodist Churches. Brian has been a pastor for The North Georgia United Methodist Church Conference for over 20 years and his passion was to make Jesus real to all people. He was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Jimmie Frances Paul Davis and a brother, Chris Davis. Brian is survived by his loving wife, Leisel Davis of Winder; two sisters, Karan Harp (Keith) of Suwanee and Susan Watson (Stewart) of Longwood, FL; a sister-in-law, Susan Davis of Malabar, FL and nephew and nieces, Ben Harp, Laura Himschoot, Emily Dailey and Kate Watson.
Kenneth (“Ken”) J. Edwards, MDiv 1972, 77, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away Sunday, December 17, 2017, at Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Ken was born on March 23, 1940 in Bellows Falls, Vermont, to Florence and Arthur Edwards. A former U.S. Navy veteran, retired Methodist minister, and hospital social worker, Ken will be remembered by all whose lives he impacted during his many years of service. Ken loved to study history, art, theology, and music. He began a long life of achievement as the valedictorian of his high school class and later earned degrees in history, divinity, and social work from Yale University, Asbury Theological Seminary, and the University of Texas in Arlington respectively. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ken loved great art and music and supported the opera, theater, and museums in the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex for many years. After his retirement he served his community by volunteering at the Kimbell Art Museum and joining a citizen’s patrol in his local neighborhood.Ken was predeceased by his parents as well as his sister, Muriel Clark, of Corpus Christie, Texas, and by his daughter, Melissa Edwards of Fort Worth. He leaves behind his brother Philip Edwards of Shutesbury, MA, the mother of his two children, Cynthia Krueger, of Boynton Beach, Florida, his son, Mark Edwards and wife of New York City, and granddaughter, Magnolia of New York City. Ken’s friends and family who loved him will miss him dearly and continue to regard his legacy and years of service to others with great pride.
Wendy Jean Steinberg, 63 of Sanford passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017. Mrs. Steinberg was born in Catskill, NY daughter of the late Lauren Steinberg and Dorothy Johnson Steinberg. Wendy was a member of St Luke United Methodist Church, who loved her family, faith and the mountains. As a lifelong student, some of her accomplishments include a PhD in Educational Psychology, a Masters in Theological Studies, and was currently working towards her Medical Chaplaincy. Mrs. Steinberg is survived by her husband, Robert Sanford; son Ryan Sanford (Kara) o f Raleigh; daughter, Rachel Sanford of Lexington, KY; grandchildren, Canaan and Prim; sisters, Barbara Lapham of VA, and Sherry Gandler of FL. Memorial contributions can be made to the Growing Scholarships Fund, Asbury Theological Seminary, 204 N. Lexington Ave, Wilmore, KY 40390-9989. Charitable donations may be made to: Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Avenue, Wilmore KY 40390-9899
Jack Edward Wilhite, BDiv 1956, son of the late U.E. “Zeek” Wilhite and the late Ida Blane Wilhite of Holcomb died January 15, 2018 at the age of 88. Jack graduated from Holcomb High School in 1947. He began college at Arkansas State College and transferred to Southwest Missouri State College where he received the Bachelor of Science degree in 1954, Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1956, Master of Science from Southern Illinois University in 1961, elected to membership in Phi Delta Kappa, a professional education fraternity in 1961, Doctor of Philosophy from University of Illinois in 1973. His call to preach was first as a pastor and then evangelistic services and revivals. He wrote a book of all his travels called the Million Mile Man printed by Old Paths in 2007. Survivors: One brother: Stanley (Clara) Wilhite of Flint, Michigan Nephews: Blane (Charlotte) Wilhite. Johnny (Dianne) Wilhite and Rodney (Debbie Keown) Wilhite. Nieces: Pat (Rev. Jay Ahlemann), Daronda Toole, Karen Sanborn, Sherry (Mike) Benton, Myra (Lesley) Robinson and Myrna (Terry) Sanders and many special friends. Jack was preceded in death by his parents U.E. and Ida Wilhite, five brothers: Espen, Urias, Wesley, Mack and Lynn (who died in infancy) and nieces Ramona Hilfiker and Debra Johnson.
Lynda K. Bolinsky-Williams, 70, of Oak Ridge, went home to be with her heavenly father on Thursday, December 28, 2017. Lynda was born on June 2, 1947 in East Stone Gap, VA. She graduated with the class of 1965 from Oak Ridge High School, attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky and received her BA Degree from Maryville College. Lynda was a member of Kern Methodist Church. Lynda loved to read and garden and was an avid baker. Lynda is preceded in death by the love of her life, Clyde Williams, and her father, Joe Bolinsky, Jr. Lynda is survived by her loving mother, Sallie Walker, of Oak Ridge; Aunt, Jimmie Sue and husband, Sam Hurt, of Oak Ridge; sister, Dian and husband, Mike Haas, of California; brother, Joe Bolinsky III, of Oak Ridge; daughter, Melissa Douglas, of Oak Ridge; son, Scott and wife, Scarlett Clark, of Oak Ridge; son, Jason and wife, Carrie Clark, of Oak Ridge; grandchildren, Blake, Austin and Rebecka Douglas, Zak, Kyndall and Casyn Clark, and Savannah and Sierra Clark; great-grandchild, Addison Smith; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as, her beloved pet, Allie. Jeremiah 29:11
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