Obituaries
John graduated from Belpre High School and enlisted in the United States Army, serving from 1947 to 1950. He then graduated from Asbury University, receiving a BA degree in 1955 and served in the United States Army Reserves from 1956 to 1958. He graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1961 with a Masters of Divinity degree. He was employed by the FBI as a Special Agent from 1968 to 1988, from 1992 to 2002 he worked part time for the FBI and West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission. John was a member of First United Methodist Church and also a United Methodist minister serving several local churches including Barlow, Bartlett, and Palmer.
John married Ruth M. Hale in 1950, with Ruth passing in 2005. They were the proud parents of a daughter Deborah A. Murray (Dan) of Parkersburg. He is also survived by his grandchildren Kyra D. Lacey (Ryan) and Skyler W. Murray; five great grandchildren Jaiden, Brooklyn, Brodi, Acacia, and Ryatt; two sisters Connie Hopkins of Dallas, TX and Joyce Miesse of Mt. Vernon, OH; and a brother David W. Bryan of Mt. Vernon.
In addition to his parents and wife, John is preceded in death by three sisters Betty Ann Sampson, Jane Welbron, and Rebecca Cunningham.
David Gilpatrick Coke Jr., M.Div. ’73, aged 77, of Rockford died July 23, 2024. Born May 26, 1947 in Wichita, KS; son of David Gilpatrick and Lucille (Ballard) Coke Sr. Graduate of Hampton Dubose Academy in FL. Dave obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Asbury College and his Master’s of Divinity Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. United in marriage to Paula Middleton on December 26, 1969 in Memphis, TN.
Dave had a warm, welcoming personality and was truly a “Jack of All Trades”. He enjoyed household projects, fixing cars, and giving his time and talent to those in his circle. Dave was raised in Dixon, Illinois and attended Grand Detour Union Church as a child. He later attended Chapelwood Community Church and served as Pastor of Living Faith Church in Rockton, IL. Dave was a lifelong learner who surrounded himself with the sermons, writings, and teachings of great Evangelists. He was personal friends with Gordon Olson and Harry Conn, renowned Bible scholars.
Dave lived out his faith each day; emulating the life of his Savior, Jesus Christ. There was no conversation that Dave would not bring God into. He preached every chance he could. In his younger years, he worked at Warner Brake and Electric, later retiring from Clinton Electronics after 36 years of dedicated service. In his retirement, Dave opened Denali’s Pizza, with his family in the former Colonial Village Mall. A devoted following of people loved his pizza, garlic knots, and cheesecake over the years.
Survived by his wife, Paula; children, Joshua (Megan) Coke, Jeremy (Sarah) Coke, Jonathan Coke and also grandchildren, Caleb, Ben, Ryley (Olivia), Josiah (Annalene), Isaac, Anna, Birkey, Mae, great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Reid; sister, Linda (Mike) Cain; niece, Marissa Cain; special friends, Duke Riseling and Pastor Dean Harvey. Preceded in death by his parents and daughter Johannah Coke. Dave’s family is grateful to the medical team at Beloit Memorial Hospital ICU for their loving, compassionate care.
William “Bill” Eugene Gray, M.A.R. ’70, aged 80, was born in Decatur, Illinois, the 4th child of Earl and Eileen Joplin Gray. As a child, Bill raced Soap Box Derby cars, was a boy scout, a solid student, and a basketball player. He went to Central College in McPherson, Kansas, where he met his first love, Marvelyn (Marvie) Fay Kaufman. In 1967 they graduated from Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois and were married. Bill and Marvie were involved in music ministry, Bible quizzing, Faith at Work,Youth for Christ and other regional ministry. In 1970 Bill completed his M.A. in Religion at Asbury Seminary and then returned to Decatur and helped run Gray and Sons, a waste hauling business. Two sons, Marvin Earl and Marc William, mysteriously arrived on the scene in Decatur.
After a 1973 move to Kansas, the McPherson County Landfill and Waste Management Systems were also born! Bill and the kids joined Marvie and the Kaufman Family in a touring musical group humbly called “The Chosen Ones” (8 track tapes available)! To avoid boredom, he also started a demolition company, real estate rentals, and taught Psychology at Central College. A member of McPherson Free Methodist Church, Bill served on the Mission Committee, helped with youth and music ministry, and made life-long friends. The family enjoyed travel, camping, skiing, singing, Bible Quizzing, worshiping and working together with family and friends.
Bill and Marvie sold the business in 1987 and went to the Dominican Republic where he taught school, ran a conference center, and worked as a business director. Bill coordinated over 27 construction and outreach teams through the years. During these years Bill also got his teaching certificate at Emporia State University and renovated 3 houses in Emporia and California. They came back to the US in 1998 for medical care. Bill survived cancer but soon thereafter Marvie did not and passed in 2001 at age 57.
Bill soon met Shirley Arneson and they were married in Seattle in 2002. Together they served in missions in the Philippines, Mozambique, Mexico, Columbia, Costa Rica, Thailand, Uruguay and in Nogales, Arizona where they were volunteer missionaries with the Free Methodist Church for 2 years. While in Nogales, they found their winter home in Green Valley, Arizona and moved there in 2006. Summers were spent at Warm Beach Camp, Stanwood, WA for 7 years and thereafter at Ancora Village in Everett, WA, a community for people retired from ministry.
Along with world travel and missions work, Bill enjoyed playing cards, golfing, making jewelry, and visiting friends and family. He and Shirley attended Evangelical Free Church of Green Valley, AZ.
Bill was a problem solver who never saw a handyman or construction project he didn’t like! He helped many of us with renovations. A man of action even at 80, he was cutting down trees while working on a property he loved north of Spokane, WA, when he was stung by bees. His allergies overcame his medicine and he passed August 1, 2024.
Bill is survived by his wife Shirley, brother Arden Gray, sisters Carolyn Gray Kinneman and Shirley Curfman (Manny Stucki); son Marc and son Marvin (Julie), and their children and grandchildren Maria (Ethan) Goodnight [Russell], Daniel (Alyssa Gray)[Isaac], Rachel and Emmanuel Terrell, and Melody Gray; and Shirley’s children and grandchildren Eric (CarlaRae) Arneson [Brittany, Blake, Levi], Sam (Carina) Martin [Jonathan, Dustin], and Seth Arneson of Everett, WA. And of course many other dearly-loved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
Born August 13, 1943 in Exeter, New Hampshire, to parents Martin Edward and Katherine (Joss) Gunther, he graduated from Winnacunet High School in 1961. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University in 1965, and later that year married Peggy Lee Allen.
Bob was dismissed from his draft status to serve in the Vietnam War as he listened to the leading of the Lord which led them to the mission field – in Vietnam! In 1967, He and Peggy started a servicemen center in Saigon with the Christian & Missionary Alliance as a ministry to the American and Allied soldiers – serving about 800 servicemen each month.
After four years in Vietnam, Saigon fell, and Bob returned to The States. He worked as an electrical engineer in quality control at United Technologies in Lexington, OH. Following a three-year furlough, they returned to Southeast Asia, where he managed the Alliance Guest House in Bangkok, Thailand, taught at Bangkok Bible College, and served as pastor to a small group of tech-minded students at Asian Institute of Technology.
In 1980 they moved to Kentucky, where Bob entered seminary – with the intent to be more qualified to be a chaplain to international students. He earned his Master of Arts and Religion from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1984, and worked over 14 years at Asbury College as a broadcast engineer.
Moving to Ohio in 1998, he partnered with his brother-in-law, Tim Hahn, flipping houses. Eventually, Bob attended University of Toledo to gain a teaching certification. He filled many roles with Madison Comprehensive High School, where he finally retired, but not really.
Described as selfless and full of energy, Bob was “Mr. Fix-It”. Work was his hobby. His genuine satisfaction came from helping others – practically. He served the board of the HOA at McIntosh Reserve Condominiums, where he lived. He truly liked to be in charge of every project. His work adage was, “Do your best and let God take care of the rest.”
Remembered as one who was not afraid to teach Revelations, Bob had a keen sense of humor, brimming with puns, one-liners, and long “play on words” jokes. He’d say his favorite scripture was I Chronicles 26:18 (look it up and remember his sense of humor), but it was clear he lived his life by the verse James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Bob didn’t need to tell you his religion – he lived it.
He is survived by his wife Peggy (Allen) Gunther, whom he married June 26, 1965; their children Madonna Katherine Gordon of Norwich, VT, Michelle Lynne Beard of Lexington, KY, John Edward (Sharalee) Gunther of Lexington, OH, and David Allen Gunther of Spring Hill, TN; grandchildren; Gil Gordon, Gunnar Gordon, John Paul Beard, Weston Gunther, Chandler (Rebekah) Gunther, Everett Gunther, Johnny Gunther, Grace Gunther, Caden Gunther, Emma Gunther, and Ethan Gunther; a brother Richard Martin Gunther of Reston, VA; along with numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Donna Kaye Dudley of Chicago.
John L. Hickman, B.Div. ’57, aged 92, was born April 16, 1932, in Lancaster, Ohio and died August 20, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of John L. and Edith Hickman (nee Fuller). He was predeceased by Carolyn June, his loving wife of 63 years. He is also survived by his son, John Mark (Anne) Hickman and his daughter Julie Hickman, and grandchildren Jeffrey (Pam) Hickman, John Lyle Hickman, Joseph (Darci) Hickman, Ashley (the Rev. Reggie) Phillips, the Rev. Hunter Hickman, great-grandsons Hudson and Sawyer Phillips, Ezekiel Hickman, and Ryder John Hickman, and great-grand daughters Annabelle and Elyse Phillips and Ryiah Hickman. He is predeceased by his son-in-law Dr. Paul A. Hickman.
John graduated from Lancaster High School and Asbury University. He earned Master of Divinity Degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary and Hamma Divinity School. He was a United Methodist paster for 43 years, serving churches in Mackville-Antioch and Wisemantown, Kentucky, and in Ohio at Frankfort, Millersport, Williamsburg, Cincinnati (Forest Chapel), Delta, Van Wert (First), and Columbus (Northwest). He was a member of the bishop’s cabinet, serving as superintendent of the West Ohio Conference Wilmington District. After retirement, he served as interim pastor in Columbus at New Albany, Summit, St. Andrew, and Scioto Ridge. On the local, district, and Conference level he served on many committees and was the chairman of several.
Stan was a 1961 graduate of Asbury College and a 1964 Asbury Seminary and was ordained as a minister, serving as an elder of the Free Methodist Church – USA. In 1968, Stan and Carolyn were appointed as missionaries to Burundi, E. Africa, by World Gospel Mission (Marion, IN), serving until 1981. From 1982 through retirement, Stan was on staff at the headquarters of World Gospel Mission in Marion, where he was also a member of Lakeview Wesleyan Church. Stan was passionate about missions and about people. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed spending time with them and encouraging them to love and serve Jesus Christ.
He is survived by wife, Carolyn; son, Stephen; brother, Carlin and wife, Janice of Summerville, SC; sister-in-law, Evelyn of St. Louis, MO; son-in-law, Matthew Van Order of Hamilton, MI; four grandchildren, Sara, Carter, Brandon, and Joshua Van Order, all of Hamilton, MI, and six nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elaine Garnet (Ely) Lewis (Sept. 15, 1983) and Clarence Edgar Lewis (Aug. 2, 2008); brother, Elvin Duane (Oct. 1, 2016), and daughter, Christina Suzann (Lewis) Van Order (Mar. 23, 2023).
Howard Barrett Loveland, aged 87, husband of Carolyn Garrett Loveland for 64 years, passed away on August 9, 2024. He was born February 20, 1937, in Brownville, NY, to the late Leander and Vera Barrett Loveland. Howard loved his family; he loved sports, and above all, he loved Jesus Christ. Raised in upstate New York, Howard spent his teen years farming and attending school. Later, his travels would take him to the Air Force, to ETSU, and to his wife to this day, Carolyn. Howard was one of 11 children, and he and Carolyn had 6 of their own-Irene Myers, Tammy Kurtz, Michael Loveland, Rebekah Klave, Daniel Loveland, and Andrew Loveland. His desire to serve God led him and Carolyn to their first ministry role at Good Tidings Bible Conference of New York. He later studied at Asbury Seminary and Columbia Bible College, taught at Southeastern Christian College, and attended Fellowship of Believers Church where he was an elder and beloved member for almost 50 years. A graduate of EKU, he finished his career as Executive Director of Telford YMCA. In addition to his wife and children he is survived by 26 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Virgil M. Riggs, B.Div. ’50, aged 87, of Overland Park, KS peacefully passed away Friday, July 2, 2010.
Virgil is survived by Rosetta, his wife of 63 years, a son Larry and his wife Dvonna, a daughter Marilyn Peters and her husband Chris, a daughter Sondra, a brother Marvin Riggs and a sister Neva Morris. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jeremy and Natalie Riggs, Jason and Megan Riggs, Jamie and Nicholas Leach, Jeffrey Peters, Sean and Kristen Peters, Tyler Peters, his great-grandchildren Rowan Riggs, Jaxon Riggs, Dakota Riggs, Braden Leach, Wyatt Leach, Mollee Peters, and numerous nieces & nephews.
Virgil was born September 13, 1922 in Rush Center, KS to Lester & Emma Riggs. After service in the army during WWII, Virgil earned several degrees including Bachelor of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and Doctor of Education from Oklahoma State University.
Both an educator and a minister, Virgil’s real calling was the ministry, where he served a number of congregations faithfully and joyfully during his life. His mission was to live a life pleasing to God and to help others discover the peace & joy that only Christ can give. Beloved by many, he will be greatly missed; but we have joy that he is now with Jesus.
Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com
Larry served six congregations in the PNW United Methodist Church from 1966 to 2003, Highland Park, Fairwood, Haller Lake, Olympia 1st, Central United Protestant, and Kent. He had the unique ability to personalize his sermons around a scripture with stories and the periodic joke that brought the scripture to life. He often expressed the most important aspect of his work was to care for those struggling.
Larry was an avid fan of Seattle sports, loved to golf, and enjoyed traveling. What he loved most of all was spending time with his family; Larry is forever loved by his wife of 64 years, Loretta; their daughters Renee (Bob) Paulson, Michelle (Frank) Carlone; grandchildren Chelsea (Dan) McKinley, Ashley (Wil) Crummer, Connor Paulson, and Anthony Carlone; and great grandchildren Noah McKinley, Owen McKinley, Atlas Maloy, and a Crummer baby boy on the way.
Gary was born November 10, 1948, in Hereford, Texas to Joseph “Joe” Gardiner and Maude Elizabeth (Noland) Story. Gary graduated from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas where he met his wife, Carol Wright. The two wed on August 14, 1971, in Perryton, Texas. Gary worked in banking in Houston and Canadian, Texas until he felt called to full-time Christian ministry. Gary and his family moved to Wilmore in 1988 where he attended Asbury Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity. Upon graduation in 1992, Gary started his second career as a chaplain at Heritage Hospice in Danville, Kentucky.
After 20 years of service, he retired from full-time chaplaincy and began serving as part-time chaplain at Wesley Village, a retirement community in Wilmore.
In 2017 he received the Outstanding Service Award in Spiritual Care from LeadingAge Kentucky, an association representing non-profit healthcare facilities for the elderly.
Gary will be missed dearly by his many friends, coworkers, and family.
Gary is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol; his daughter, Penny, and son-in-law, Matt Pohlmann, of Atlanta, Georgia; his daughter, Patty, son-in-law, Dwight Baxter, granddaughter, Geneva, and grandson, Xavier, of Rogers, Arkansas; his sister, Sandra, and brother-in-law, Roland Saul, of Hereford, Texas; his sister, Jan Metcalf, of Brackettville, Texas; his brother-in-law, Roy Mustian, of Graham, Texas; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Maude Story, stepmother, Bessie Story, sister, Nancy Mustian, sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Dan McDowell, brother-in-law, Stan Metcalf, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Karen Wright.
Thank you for the information.
In 1980, upon arriving for my studies at Asbury Theolgical Seminary, met Bob Gunther and family.
Together with the international students, and class friends, we were inspired by his life for missions.
Suraja Raman Dr ( Ms),
ATS 1982.
SINGAPORE.
GLORY TO GOD.
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Sincere condolences to the bereaved family and friends from my family and the wider Wesleyan Church community in the Caribbean and internationally.
Rev. Dr. Joel Cumberbatch
General Superintendent – The Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean
The Chairman- The International Board of the Wesleyan Church